CVE-2016-6978 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-2016-6976, CVE-2016-6977, 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 attackers due to their widespread use and the complex nature of their PDF parsing engines. This particular vulnerability affects multiple versions of Adobe's desktop and mobile applications across different operating systems, creating a significant attack surface that spans from enterprise environments to individual users. The vulnerability is categorized as a memory corruption issue that can be exploited to execute arbitrary code or cause denial of service conditions, making it particularly dangerous in targeted attack scenarios.
The technical flaw manifests in the way Adobe's PDF processing libraries handle certain input data structures, leading to memory corruption that can be leveraged by attackers to gain unauthorized control over affected systems. Memory corruption vulnerabilities typically arise from improper bounds checking, buffer overflows, or use-after-free conditions within the application's codebase. This specific vulnerability is distinct from numerous other CVEs in the same advisory cycle, indicating that Adobe's security team identified a unique code path or parsing mechanism that was susceptible to exploitation. The vulnerability exists in both Windows and macOS environments, suggesting the issue is in the core PDF engine rather than platform-specific components.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple exploitation capabilities to encompass broader security implications for organizations relying on Adobe Reader and Acrobat. Attackers could potentially deliver malicious PDF files through spear-phishing campaigns, drive-by downloads, or compromised websites, making this vulnerability particularly attractive for advanced persistent threat actors. The memory corruption nature means that successful exploitation could result in complete system compromise, allowing attackers to execute malicious code with the privileges of the targeted user. This type of vulnerability is particularly concerning because it can be triggered through legitimate PDF viewing activities, making user awareness and security controls critical for defense.
Organizations should prioritize immediate patching of affected Adobe Reader and Acrobat installations to prevent exploitation attempts. The vulnerability affects versions prior to 11.0.18 for classic Acrobat and Reader, and 15.006.30243 for DC Classic, with the Continuous version requiring updates to 15.020.20039 or later. Security teams should implement additional controls such as PDF file scanning, application whitelisting, and network-based protections to reduce the risk of exploitation. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203 (Exploitation for Client Execution) and CWE-125 (Out-of-bounds Read) or related memory corruption weaknesses, emphasizing the need for comprehensive security measures beyond simple patch management. The presence of multiple affected versions across different product lines indicates that this vulnerability was likely present in core parsing logic that has been consistently reused across Adobe's product suite, making the attack surface particularly broad and requiring extensive remediation efforts.