CVE-2016-6964 in Acrobat Reader
Summary
by MITRE
Use-after-free vulnerability in 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 allows attackers to execute arbitrary code via unspecified vectors, a different vulnerability than CVE-2016-1089, CVE-2016-1091, CVE-2016-6944, CVE-2016-6945, CVE-2016-6946, CVE-2016-6949, CVE-2016-6952, CVE-2016-6953, CVE-2016-6961, CVE-2016-6962, CVE-2016-6963, CVE-2016-6965, CVE-2016-6967, CVE-2016-6968, CVE-2016-6969, CVE-2016-6971, CVE-2016-6979, CVE-2016-6988, and CVE-2016-6993.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/17/2024
This use-after-free vulnerability exists in Adobe Reader and Acrobat software across multiple versions, specifically affecting Windows and macOS platforms. The flaw occurs when the application processes certain malformed or crafted input data, leading to memory management issues where freed memory blocks are still referenced by subsequent operations. This particular vulnerability is distinct from numerous other related issues identified in the same timeframe, indicating a unique code path that triggers the memory corruption condition. The vulnerability affects both the classic and continuous delivery versions of Adobe's PDF processing applications, spanning across major version releases including 11.0.18, 15.006.30243, and 15.020.20039.
The technical execution of this vulnerability involves attackers crafting malicious PDF documents or manipulating input parameters that cause the application to free memory resources while maintaining references to them. When the application subsequently attempts to access this freed memory location, it can lead to unpredictable behavior including code execution. This type of vulnerability falls under the common weakness enumeration CWE-416, which specifically addresses use-after-free conditions in memory management. The flaw represents a critical security gap that allows for remote code execution, as attackers can leverage this condition through malicious PDF files delivered via email attachments, web downloads, or other attack vectors. The vulnerability demonstrates how improper memory management in complex software applications can create persistent security risks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple exploitation scenarios, as it enables attackers to gain unauthorized control over affected systems. Once successfully exploited, adversaries can execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the user running the vulnerable Adobe application, potentially leading to full system compromise. This vulnerability affects organizations that rely heavily on PDF processing, as users may inadvertently open malicious documents that trigger the exploit. The widespread use of Adobe Reader and Acrobat across enterprise environments makes this vulnerability particularly dangerous, as a single compromised system can serve as a foothold for broader network infiltration. The vulnerability's presence in both classic and continuous delivery versions indicates that Adobe's security updates across different release channels were not consistently addressing this specific memory management flaw.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability include immediate deployment of Adobe's security patches and updates, which address the underlying memory management issues in the affected software versions. Organizations should implement strict email filtering and web content scanning to prevent users from accessing potentially malicious PDF files. Security teams should also consider implementing application whitelisting policies that restrict execution of unauthorized software, and maintain regular vulnerability assessments to identify systems running outdated versions of Adobe products. The remediation process should prioritize updating all instances of Adobe Reader and Acrobat across the enterprise, particularly focusing on versions prior to the patched releases mentioned in the vulnerability description. Additionally, network segmentation and endpoint protection measures can help limit the potential impact should an attacker successfully exploit this vulnerability in a targeted manner.