CVE-2016-6969 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-2016-6964, CVE-2016-6965, CVE-2016-6967, CVE-2016-6968, CVE-2016-6971, CVE-2016-6979, CVE-2016-6988, and CVE-2016-6993.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/18/2024
This vulnerability represents a critical use-after-free flaw in Adobe Reader and Acrobat software across multiple versions, specifically affecting Windows and macOS platforms. The issue stems from improper memory management where freed memory blocks are still referenced by the application, creating opportunities for attackers to manipulate program execution flow. Such vulnerabilities fall under the common weakness enumeration CWE-416 which specifically addresses use-after-free conditions in software applications. The vulnerability exists in versions prior to 11.0.18 for traditional Acrobat and Reader, and before 15.006.30243 for DC Classic and before 15.020.20039 for DC Continuous, indicating a widespread impact across Adobe's product lineage.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through unspecified attack vectors that allow remote code execution, making it particularly dangerous in targeted attack scenarios. Attackers can leverage the use-after-free condition to overwrite memory locations with malicious code, potentially leading to complete system compromise. This type of vulnerability is classified under the attack technique T1059 in the ATT&CK framework, which encompasses execution techniques that allow adversaries to run code in the context of the victim's system. The memory corruption aspect of this flaw enables attackers to manipulate the program's control flow, potentially redirecting execution to malicious payloads injected into the freed memory space.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-6969 extends beyond simple code execution to encompass full system compromise capabilities, particularly when combined with other exploit techniques or in targeted campaigns. Organizations using affected Adobe software versions face significant risk of unauthorized access, data exfiltration, and persistent threats. The vulnerability's presence across multiple product versions and platforms increases the attack surface significantly, as it affects both legacy and newer Adobe Acrobat DC implementations. Security professionals must consider this vulnerability alongside other related CVEs from the same timeframe, though the specific vector differs from those mentioned, making it a distinct threat requiring separate mitigation strategies.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability primarily focus on immediate software updates to patched versions, as Adobe released security updates addressing the memory management issues. System administrators should prioritize patch management and ensure all endpoints running Adobe Reader or Acrobat are updated to versions 11.0.18 or later for traditional products, and 15.006.30243 or later for DC Classic, and 15.020.20039 or later for DC Continuous. Additional protective measures include implementing application whitelisting policies, restricting Adobe Reader usage to trusted documents only, and deploying sandboxing solutions to contain potential exploitation attempts. Network-based defenses such as intrusion detection systems can help identify exploitation attempts, while endpoint protection solutions should be configured to monitor for suspicious memory access patterns that might indicate use-after-free exploitation attempts.