CVE-2016-7014 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-2016-7012, CVE-2016-7013, 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 attacks due to their widespread use and complex codebases that process diverse document formats. CVE-2016-7014 represents a critical memory corruption vulnerability affecting multiple versions of Adobe's desktop and mobile document processing applications across Windows and macOS platforms. This vulnerability falls under the category of remote code execution flaws that can be exploited by attackers to gain unauthorized control over affected systems. The flaw manifests through unspecified attack vectors that differ from a series of previously disclosed vulnerabilities, indicating a distinct code path or memory handling issue within the application's processing engine. Security researchers have identified that this vulnerability can result in either arbitrary code execution or denial of service conditions, making it particularly dangerous for enterprise environments where Adobe Reader is commonly deployed.
The technical nature of CVE-2016-7014 involves memory corruption issues that typically occur when applications fail to properly validate or handle memory operations during document parsing. Such vulnerabilities often arise from buffer overflows, use-after-free conditions, or improper memory allocation handling within the PDF processing libraries that Adobe Reader and Acrobat utilize. The vulnerability's classification aligns with CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions, and CWE-787, which covers out-of-bounds write operations. Attackers can potentially craft malicious PDF files that trigger these memory corruption conditions when opened by vulnerable applications. The exploitation process typically involves carefully constructed PDF content that causes the application to access invalid memory locations or overwrite critical program data structures, leading to unpredictable behavior or complete system compromise.
From an operational perspective, the impact of CVE-2016-7014 extends beyond individual user systems to enterprise networks where Adobe Reader remains a ubiquitous component of business workflows. Organizations that have not updated their Adobe Reader installations to version 11.0.18 or later face significant risk of targeted attacks, as the vulnerability can be leveraged for initial access or privilege escalation within network environments. The vulnerability's presence in both classic and continuous deployment models of Adobe Acrobat DC means that enterprises must consider multiple update paths to achieve comprehensive protection. Network security teams must also account for the potential for zero-day exploitation of this vulnerability, as attackers may have already developed working exploits before public disclosure. The attack surface is particularly broad since PDF files can be delivered through email attachments, web downloads, or malicious websites, making traditional email filtering and web security measures insufficient for complete protection.
Organizations should implement immediate remediation strategies to address CVE-2016-7014 by deploying the latest Adobe Reader and Acrobat updates from the vendor's official channels. The recommended mitigation approach includes comprehensive patch management procedures that ensure all endpoints running vulnerable versions are updated promptly. Security administrators should consider implementing additional protective measures such as Adobe's Protected View mode, which can help prevent automatic execution of potentially malicious content. Network segmentation and application whitelisting policies can further reduce the risk of exploitation by limiting the execution of untrusted PDF content. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving exploitation of software vulnerabilities and privilege escalation, with potential lateral movement opportunities if exploited successfully. Organizations should also conduct vulnerability assessments to identify all systems running vulnerable versions and establish monitoring procedures to detect potential exploitation attempts. The remediation process must be carefully coordinated to avoid disruption of legitimate business operations while ensuring complete protection against this and related memory corruption vulnerabilities in Adobe's document processing applications.