CVE-2016-6970 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-2016-6966, 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.
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/18/2024
This vulnerability affects Adobe Reader and Acrobat products across multiple versions, representing a critical memory corruption flaw that enables remote code execution or denial of service attacks. The issue manifests in the parsing of maliciously crafted PDF files, where improper input validation leads to memory corruption that can be exploited by attackers to gain unauthorized system access. The vulnerability is particularly concerning as it affects both Windows and macOS operating systems, expanding the potential attack surface significantly. Security researchers have identified this as a distinct vulnerability from numerous other CVEs in the same timeframe, indicating a unique exploitation vector that requires specific mitigation approaches.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves improper handling of memory structures during PDF document processing, which creates opportunities for attackers to manipulate memory contents through crafted input. This type of flaw typically arises from insufficient bounds checking or improper memory allocation routines within the PDF parsing engine. The memory corruption occurs when the application processes specific elements within PDF files, potentially leading to stack or heap corruption that can be leveraged to execute arbitrary code. Attackers can exploit this by crafting malicious PDF documents that, when opened by vulnerable software, trigger the memory corruption and provide remote code execution capabilities.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risk to organizations relying on Adobe Reader and Acrobat for document processing. The attack surface is broad as these applications are commonly used across enterprises for viewing PDF documents, making them frequent targets for social engineering attacks. The vulnerability can be exploited through various delivery mechanisms including email attachments, web downloads, or malicious websites that serve compromised PDF files. Organizations may experience unauthorized access to systems, data breaches, or complete system compromise when this vulnerability is exploited, particularly in environments where users have administrative privileges. The denial of service aspect means that even if remote code execution is not achieved, systems can become unavailable, disrupting business operations.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate patch deployment for all affected versions of Adobe Reader and Acrobat products, as well as implementing network-based protections such as PDF file filtering and sandboxing mechanisms. Organizations should also consider restricting user privileges when opening PDF files and implementing email security controls that scan and quarantine potentially malicious attachments. The vulnerability aligns with several ATT&CK framework techniques including initial access through malicious files and execution through legitimate system processes. Security teams should monitor for indicators of compromise related to PDF file access patterns and implement comprehensive vulnerability management programs to address similar issues in the future. This vulnerability exemplifies the ongoing challenges in securing document processing applications and underscores the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches for widely used software components.