CVE-2016-7012 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-2016-7005, CVE-2016-7006, CVE-2016-7007, CVE-2016-7008, CVE-2016-7009, CVE-2016-7010, CVE-2016-7011, 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 adversaries due to their widespread use in document processing and the complex nature of their codebases. This particular vulnerability CVE-2016-7012 represents a critical memory corruption flaw that affects multiple versions of Adobe's document processing software across Windows and macOS platforms. The vulnerability exists within the parsing and rendering components of these applications, where improper handling of malformed input data can lead to unpredictable behavior in memory management. Security researchers have identified this issue as distinct from a series of related vulnerabilities, emphasizing that it operates through different attack vectors and exploitation mechanisms.
The technical nature of CVE-2016-7012 manifests as a memory corruption vulnerability that can be triggered through various input vectors within PDF documents. Attackers can craft malicious PDF files that, when opened by vulnerable versions of Adobe Reader or Acrobat, cause the application to mishandle memory allocation and deallocation processes. This memory corruption can result in arbitrary code execution or system crashes leading to denial of service conditions. The vulnerability's impact is particularly severe because it allows remote code execution without requiring user interaction beyond opening a malicious document, making it highly attractive for advanced persistent threat actors. The flaw typically involves heap-based buffer overflows or use-after-free conditions that occur during PDF parsing operations, where the application fails to properly validate or sanitize input data structures.
From an operational standpoint, this vulnerability creates significant risk for organizations that rely heavily on Adobe Acrobat and Reader for document management and business processes. The attack surface is extensive given the software's prevalence in corporate environments, educational institutions, and government agencies. Security teams face challenges in identifying and mitigating this vulnerability due to the large number of affected versions and the complexity of the exploitation process. The vulnerability's classification aligns with CWE-125, which addresses out-of-bounds read conditions, and CWE-787, which covers out-of-bounds write conditions. These mappings indicate that the vulnerability involves improper bounds checking in memory operations that can be exploited to manipulate program execution flow.
The exploitation of CVE-2016-7012 typically follows patterns consistent with the attack techniques described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework, particularly within the execution and privilege escalation domains. Attackers often leverage these vulnerabilities through spear-phishing campaigns where malicious PDF attachments are delivered via email, or through compromised websites that serve malicious content. The vulnerability's presence in both classic and continuous delivery models of Adobe Acrobat DC means that organizations cannot rely on simple version identification to determine risk levels. Security professionals should consider implementing network-based detection measures and endpoint protection solutions that can identify suspicious PDF file patterns and behavior. The vulnerability's persistence across multiple product lines and versions highlights the importance of maintaining current patch management processes and implementing layered security controls.
Organizations should prioritize immediate remediation through official Adobe security patches, as the vulnerability has been actively exploited in the wild. The affected versions include Adobe Reader and Acrobat before 11.0.18, as well as specific versions of Acrobat and Acrobat Reader DC Classic and Continuous. Additionally, security teams should consider implementing application whitelisting policies, sandboxing mechanisms, and PDF content filtering to reduce the attack surface. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify any remaining instances of vulnerable software within the organization's infrastructure. The vulnerability's potential for remote code execution underscores the need for comprehensive incident response planning and network monitoring capabilities to detect and respond to exploitation attempts effectively.