CVE-2016-6956 in Acrobat Reader
Summary
by MITRE
Adobe Reader and Acrobat before 11.0.18, Acrobat and Acrobat Reader DC Classic before 15.006.30243, and Acrobat and Acrobat Reader DC Continuous before 15.020.20039 on Windows and OS X allow attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (memory corruption) via unspecified vectors, a different vulnerability than CVE-2016-6940, CVE-2016-6941, CVE-2016-6942, CVE-2016-6943, CVE-2016-6947, CVE-2016-6948, CVE-2016-6950, CVE-2016-6951, CVE-2016-6954, CVE-2016-6955, CVE-2016-6959, CVE-2016-6960, CVE-2016-6966, CVE-2016-6970, CVE-2016-6972, CVE-2016-6973, CVE-2016-6974, CVE-2016-6975, CVE-2016-6976, CVE-2016-6977, CVE-2016-6978, CVE-2016-6995, CVE-2016-6996, CVE-2016-6997, CVE-2016-6998, CVE-2016-7000, CVE-2016-7001, CVE-2016-7002, CVE-2016-7003, CVE-2016-7004, CVE-2016-7005, CVE-2016-7006, CVE-2016-7007, CVE-2016-7008, CVE-2016-7009, CVE-2016-7010, CVE-2016-7011, CVE-2016-7012, CVE-2016-7013, CVE-2016-7014, CVE-2016-7015, CVE-2016-7016, CVE-2016-7017, CVE-2016-7018, and CVE-2016-7019.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/17/2024
This vulnerability affects Adobe Reader and Acrobat products across multiple versions, representing a critical memory corruption issue that can lead to arbitrary code execution or denial of service conditions. The flaw exists within the handling of unspecified vectors in the software's processing mechanisms, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited through various attack vectors without specific disclosure of the exact trigger conditions. The vulnerability impacts both Windows and macOS operating systems, demonstrating the cross-platform nature of the security issue. According to the CVE description, this represents a distinct vulnerability from numerous other CVEs published in the same timeframe, indicating it was not part of a coordinated exploitation campaign with the related vulnerabilities.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper memory handling within Adobe's PDF processing libraries, where attackers can manipulate input data to cause buffer overflows or other memory corruption conditions. This type of flaw typically occurs when the application fails to properly validate input data or when memory allocation routines do not adequately protect against malicious input sequences. The vulnerability's classification aligns with common CWE categories related to memory safety issues, particularly those involving buffer overflows and memory corruption that can be leveraged for privilege escalation or remote code execution. The attack surface is broad as it affects the core PDF rendering functionality that processes documents from untrusted sources.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe for organizations relying on Adobe Reader and Acrobat products, as successful exploitation can result in complete system compromise. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the affected application, potentially leading to full system infiltration, data exfiltration, or persistent backdoor establishment. The denial of service aspect can also be leveraged for disruption attacks, where legitimate users are prevented from accessing critical documents or applications. Organizations using these products in enterprise environments face significant risk, as the vulnerability can be exploited through email attachments, web downloads, or other common attack vectors that deliver malicious PDF files.
Mitigation strategies should prioritize immediate patching of affected systems to the latest versions of Adobe Reader and Acrobat that contain the security fixes. Organizations should implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure to potentially malicious PDF files, while also deploying email filtering solutions that can detect and block suspicious attachments. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual behavior patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, particularly around PDF processing activities. The vulnerability's nature suggests that organizations should also consider implementing application whitelisting policies to restrict execution of untrusted PDF files, and regular security assessments should be conducted to identify systems that may not have been updated. Additionally, user education regarding the risks of opening PDF files from untrusted sources remains crucial for comprehensive defense against exploitation attempts.