CVE-2016-6975 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-2016-6970, CVE-2016-6972, CVE-2016-6973, CVE-2016-6974, 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 prime targets for cyber adversaries due to their widespread deployment and the complex nature of PDF processing. This particular vulnerability affects multiple versions of Adobe's desktop and mobile applications across different operating systems including Windows and macOS platforms. The flaw manifests as a memory corruption issue that can be exploited to achieve arbitrary code execution or cause denial of service conditions. The vulnerability is distinct from numerous other CVEs published in the same timeframe, indicating it represents a unique code path or memory handling issue within the application's processing pipeline.
The technical nature of this memory corruption vulnerability suggests that attackers can manipulate input data in a way that leads to improper memory management within the Adobe Acrobat or Reader application. This typically occurs when the software fails to properly validate or handle specific PDF elements, potentially leading to buffer overflows, use-after-free conditions, or other memory-related anomalies. The unspecified vectors indicate that the attack surface may be broad, encompassing various PDF parsing operations or embedded object handling within the document structure. Such vulnerabilities often arise from insufficient bounds checking or improper memory allocation strategies during PDF content processing.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it affects a widely deployed application used across enterprise and individual environments. Successful exploitation could allow remote attackers to execute malicious code with the privileges of the targeted user, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The memory corruption aspect means that even if immediate code execution is not achieved, the vulnerability could be leveraged to establish persistent access or escalate privileges within the affected systems. Organizations relying on Adobe Reader for document processing face substantial risk, particularly in environments where users frequently open untrusted PDF documents from email attachments, web downloads, or file sharing systems.
Security practitioners should prioritize immediate patching of affected systems to mitigate this risk. The vulnerability affects specific version ranges including Adobe Reader and Acrobat before 11.0.18, as well as various versions of the DC Classic and Continuous editions. Remediation efforts should include comprehensive vulnerability scanning to identify affected endpoints, followed by application of the vendor-provided security patches. Network segmentation and email filtering controls can provide additional defense-in-depth layers, particularly in preventing initial exploitation attempts through malicious PDF attachments. Organizations should also consider implementing application whitelisting policies to restrict execution of untrusted PDF files, aligning with mitigations recommended in the mitre ATT&CK framework for exploitation techniques targeting document readers and office applications. This vulnerability demonstrates the persistent challenge of securing complex document processing applications and highlights the importance of regular security updates and vulnerability management programs. The presence of multiple affected versions across different product lines indicates that this represents a fundamental memory handling issue that requires thorough patching across all impacted installations.