CVE-2016-6976 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-2016-6975, 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 cyber adversaries due to their widespread deployment and complex codebase that presents numerous attack surfaces. This particular vulnerability CVE-2016-6976 represents a critical memory corruption flaw that affects multiple versions across different product lines including legacy Acrobat 11.0.18 and newer versions, as well as the continuously updated DC Classic and DC Continuous variants. The vulnerability specifically impacts Windows and macOS operating systems, making it particularly dangerous given the broad user base of these platforms. The flaw allows attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause denial of service conditions through unspecified vectors, distinguishing it from a dozen other related vulnerabilities in the same advisory cycle.
The technical nature of this memory corruption vulnerability places it squarely within the domain of software security flaws that can be exploited through buffer overflows, use-after-free conditions, or other memory management errors. Memory corruption vulnerabilities are particularly dangerous because they can lead to complete system compromise when exploited successfully, allowing attackers to execute malicious code with the privileges of the targeted application. These types of vulnerabilities are commonly classified under CWE-122 (Heap-based Buffer Overflow) or CWE-787 (Out-of-bounds Write) depending on the specific implementation details of the flaw. The unspecified vectors mentioned in the description suggest that the vulnerability could be triggered through multiple attack pathways, potentially including malformed PDF files, embedded objects, or specific sequences of operations within the application's processing pipeline.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-6976 extends far beyond simple denial of service conditions, as the ability to execute arbitrary code represents a severe threat to enterprise security environments. Organizations that deploy Adobe Reader and Acrobat across their networks face significant risk from this vulnerability, particularly in environments where users regularly open PDF documents from untrusted sources. The vulnerability's presence in both legacy and continuously updated product lines means that even organizations with relatively recent software deployments may remain at risk if they have not applied the necessary patches. Attackers leveraging this vulnerability could potentially establish persistent access to systems, escalate privileges, or deploy additional malware payloads, making this a high-priority concern for cybersecurity teams. The vulnerability's classification under the ATT&CK framework would likely fall under techniques such as T1059 (Command and Scripting Interpreter) and T1068 (Exploitation for Privilege Escalation) when successfully exploited.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-6976 require immediate action from organizations to update their Adobe Reader and Acrobat installations to the patched versions mentioned in the advisory. The recommended approach involves deploying the latest security patches from Adobe, which typically include memory management improvements and input validation enhancements designed to prevent the exploitation conditions that lead to memory corruption. Organizations should also implement additional security controls such as sandboxing PDF processing, implementing strict file access controls, and deploying email filtering solutions that can identify potentially malicious PDF attachments. Network segmentation and endpoint detection and response solutions can provide additional layers of defense against exploitation attempts. Security teams should also consider disabling PDF processing in web browsers where possible and implementing application whitelisting policies to prevent unauthorized execution of vulnerable Adobe applications. The vulnerability's impact on both classic and continuous product lines emphasizes the importance of comprehensive patch management programs that cover all versions of Adobe software deployed across the organization.