CVE-2016-7005 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-2016-6978, 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-2016-7006, 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 • 10/19/2024
Adobe Reader and Acrobat products have long been prime targets for cyber attackers due to their widespread deployment and the complex nature of their PDF parsing capabilities. This particular vulnerability CVE-2016-7005 represents a critical memory corruption flaw that affects multiple versions of Adobe's flagship applications across both Windows and macOS platforms. The vulnerability exists within the way these applications handle certain PDF objects, creating opportunities for remote code execution or denial of service conditions. Unlike other vulnerabilities in the same year that were specifically targeted at different parsing components, CVE-2016-7005 operates through distinct attack vectors that exploit memory management issues in the PDF processing engine. The flaw allows attackers to craft malicious PDF files that, when opened by an affected version of Adobe Reader or Acrobat, can trigger memory corruption leading to arbitrary code execution. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-125 weakness category, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions that can lead to memory corruption and potentially arbitrary code execution. The attack surface is particularly broad as these applications are used extensively in corporate and government environments where users frequently open PDF documents from untrusted sources.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability demonstrates sophisticated exploitation techniques that leverage memory corruption patterns common in complex document processors. Attackers can craft PDF files containing specially constructed objects that, when parsed by vulnerable Adobe applications, cause memory corruption through buffer overflows or use-after-free conditions. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple code execution to include potential denial of service scenarios where legitimate users may experience application crashes or system instability. These applications typically run with elevated privileges when processing PDF documents, making successful exploitation particularly dangerous as it could potentially allow attackers to gain unauthorized access to systems. The memory corruption aspect of this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter, as successful exploitation could enable attackers to execute arbitrary commands on compromised systems. The complexity of PDF parsing combined with the numerous attack vectors makes this vulnerability particularly challenging to defend against, as legitimate PDF functionality may inadvertently trigger the exploit conditions.
Organizations utilizing Adobe Reader and Acrobat products face significant operational risks when this vulnerability remains unpatched, as the attack surface encompasses millions of potential targets across various industries. The vulnerability's presence in both legacy versions and newer DC Classic and Continuous releases means that even organizations with updated software may still be at risk if they have not applied the specific security patches. The widespread use of these applications in enterprise environments creates a high-impact scenario where a single compromised PDF document could lead to system compromise across multiple endpoints. Security teams must consider the broader implications of this vulnerability within their network security posture, particularly in environments where PDF document sharing is common. The vulnerability's classification as a memory corruption issue means that detection and prevention require specialized approaches beyond traditional signature-based methods, often necessitating behavioral analysis and sandboxing techniques. Organizations should implement layered defense strategies that include user education about avoiding suspicious PDF documents, network-based filtering of PDF content, and regular patch management procedures. The vulnerability's exploitation potential makes it a high-priority target for advanced persistent threat actors who may use it as an initial access vector to establish footholds within targeted networks. Given the nature of memory corruption vulnerabilities, traditional antivirus solutions may not effectively detect exploitation attempts, requiring more sophisticated security monitoring and incident response procedures. The attack patterns associated with this vulnerability align with ATT&CK technique T1203 for exploitation for privilege escalation, as successful exploitation could potentially lead to privilege elevation within affected systems.