CVE-2016-6980 in Digital Editions
Summary
by MITRE
Use-after-free vulnerability in Adobe Digital Editions before 4.5.2 allows attackers to execute arbitrary code via unspecified vectors, a different vulnerability than CVE-2016-4263.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/21/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-6980 represents a critical use-after-free flaw in Adobe Digital Editions software prior to version 4.5.2. This type of vulnerability occurs when a program continues to reference memory locations that have already been freed, creating opportunities for attackers to manipulate the application's memory state and potentially execute malicious code. The flaw specifically affects Adobe Digital Editions, a digital publishing platform used for reading and managing digital books and publications, making it a significant concern for users who rely on this software for document consumption.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper memory management within the Adobe Digital Editions application. When the software handles certain file processing operations or memory allocation sequences, it fails to properly validate that memory regions remain valid before subsequent access attempts. This use-after-free condition creates a window of opportunity for attackers to craft malicious input that, when processed by the vulnerable application, causes the freed memory to be reallocated and manipulated in ways that can be exploited to gain control over the application's execution flow. The vulnerability operates through unspecified vectors, indicating that multiple attack paths may exist within the software's processing logic, making it particularly challenging to defend against comprehensively.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-6980 extends beyond simple code execution, as it represents a remote code execution vulnerability that could allow attackers to compromise systems running vulnerable versions of Adobe Digital Editions. This risk is particularly significant given that Adobe Digital Editions is commonly used for reading copyrighted materials and academic publications, making it a target for attackers seeking to exploit user trust and system access. The vulnerability's classification aligns with CWE-416, which specifically addresses use-after-free conditions, and demonstrates how improper memory management can lead to severe security implications. Attackers could potentially leverage this vulnerability to install malware, steal sensitive information, or establish persistent access to affected systems through the Adobe Digital Editions application.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-6980 primarily focus on immediate software updates and patches provided by Adobe. Organizations and individuals should prioritize updating to Adobe Digital Editions version 4.5.2 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for this vulnerability. Additionally, system administrators should consider implementing network monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts and establish baseline security configurations that limit the attack surface. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of regular software patch management and application security reviews, particularly for widely used software platforms. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability would map to techniques involving exploit development and privilege escalation, emphasizing the need for comprehensive security controls that address both application-level and system-level protections. Organizations should also consider implementing application whitelisting policies to prevent execution of unauthorized code and maintain regular vulnerability assessments to identify similar memory corruption issues in other software applications.