CVE-2016-6966 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-2016-6956, CVE-2016-6959, CVE-2016-6960, 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 • 10/18/2024
Adobe Reader and Acrobat products have long been targeted by adversaries due to their widespread use and complex codebases that create numerous potential attack surfaces. This particular vulnerability CVE-2016-6966 represents a memory corruption flaw that affects multiple versions across different product lines including the classic and continuous delivery versions of Adobe Acrobat and Reader. The vulnerability exists in the way these applications process certain file formats, specifically when handling malformed or specially crafted input data that triggers buffer overflows or other memory management errors. These memory corruption issues can be exploited by attackers who craft malicious documents designed to trigger specific code paths within the application's processing engine, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution or system crashes.
The technical nature of this vulnerability places it squarely within the domain of memory safety issues that are commonly classified under CWE-122, which deals with buffer overflows, and CWE-125, which addresses out-of-bounds read conditions. Attackers can leverage this weakness through various delivery mechanisms including phishing emails containing malicious PDF attachments or compromised websites serving malicious content. The exploitation typically requires the victim to open a specially crafted PDF file, which then triggers the memory corruption during document parsing. The attack vector often involves manipulating the application's handling of embedded objects, streams, or specific PDF elements that cause the memory management routines to behave unpredictably, potentially allowing attackers to overwrite critical memory locations or inject malicious code into the application's address space. This vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be exploited remotely without requiring user interaction beyond opening the malicious document, making it a prime target for automated exploitation campaigns.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-6966 extends far beyond individual system compromise, as it affects organizations that rely heavily on Adobe Reader for document processing and viewing. The potential for arbitrary code execution means that successful exploitation could allow attackers to gain full control over affected systems, potentially leading to data breaches, lateral movement within networks, and persistent access to critical infrastructure. Organizations using older versions of Adobe products are particularly vulnerable since these legacy versions often lack modern exploit mitigation techniques such as address space layout randomization and data execution prevention. The vulnerability's presence across multiple product versions and platforms including both Windows and OS X systems creates a broad attack surface that security teams must address through comprehensive patch management programs. From an attacker perspective, this vulnerability aligns with tactics described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the T1059 technique for command and control through application execution, and T1068 for exploit for privilege escalation.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-6966 must include immediate patch deployment across all affected systems, as Adobe released security updates for all supported versions of their products. Organizations should implement network-based protections including web proxies that scan PDF content for malicious patterns and restrict access to known malicious domains. Additionally, user education programs should emphasize the importance of avoiding suspicious email attachments and only opening PDF files from trusted sources. Security teams should also consider implementing application whitelisting policies that restrict execution of Adobe Reader to known good versions and disable unnecessary features such as JavaScript execution within PDF documents. The vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and the need for organizations to have robust vulnerability management processes in place to quickly respond to newly discovered threats. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should include evaluation of document processing applications to identify similar memory corruption vulnerabilities that could be exploited in similar attack scenarios.