CVE-2016-6958 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 bypass intended access restrictions via unspecified vectors.
VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/17/2024
Adobe Reader and Acrobat versions prior to the specified patches contain a critical access control vulnerability that enables attackers to circumvent intended security restrictions through unspecified attack vectors. This vulnerability affects multiple product lines including the legacy 11.0.18 and earlier versions of Adobe Reader and Acrobat, as well as the Classic and Continuous editions of Acrobat and Acrobat Reader DC with versions before 15.006.30243 and 15.020.20039 respectively, across both Windows and macOS operating systems. The flaw represents a significant weakness in Adobe's access control mechanisms that could potentially allow unauthorized users to gain access to restricted content or functionality within the software environment.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient validation of access permissions and inadequate enforcement of security boundaries within the Adobe Acrobat and Reader applications. Attackers can exploit this weakness to bypass intended access restrictions that should normally prevent unauthorized access to specific features, documents, or system resources. While the exact technical vectors remain unspecified in the CVE description, such vulnerabilities typically involve flaws in privilege escalation mechanisms, improper input validation, or inadequate sandboxing controls that allow malicious actors to execute unauthorized operations. This type of vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which addresses improper access control issues, and represents a fundamental breakdown in the software's security architecture that permits unauthorized access to protected resources.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, potentially enabling attackers to execute arbitrary code, access sensitive documents, or exploit additional weaknesses within the application environment. Given that Adobe Reader and Acrobat are widely deployed across enterprise and individual environments, the potential for exploitation is significant. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to gain access to confidential business documents, personal information, or to establish a foothold for further attacks within targeted networks. The cross-platform nature of the vulnerability means that organizations running either Windows or macOS systems are at risk, requiring comprehensive patch management across all affected platforms.
Organizations should immediately implement the vendor-provided patches for all affected versions of Adobe Reader and Acrobat to remediate this vulnerability. The patching process should include thorough testing in controlled environments before widespread deployment to ensure compatibility with existing workflows. Additionally, system administrators should consider implementing additional security controls such as application whitelisting, sandboxing technologies, and network monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts. Security teams should also review access controls and document handling procedures to minimize the impact of potential exploitation. This vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date software security and demonstrates how access control flaws can create significant security risks in widely used productivity applications. The remediation process should include verification that the patches have been successfully deployed across all affected systems, particularly in enterprise environments where multiple versions of the software may be in use. Organizations should also consider implementing automated patch management solutions to ensure timely deployment of security updates and reduce the window of vulnerability exposure.