CVE-2016-7015 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-2016-7014, 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 targeted by cyber threat actors due to their widespread deployment and the complex nature of their underlying codebases. This particular vulnerability CVE-2016-7015 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 mechanisms of PDF documents, specifically in how the software handles certain malformed or specially crafted input data structures. Attackers can exploit this weakness by preparing malicious PDF files that trigger memory corruption during document rendering or processing, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution or system crashes. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates outside the scope of previously identified issues, making it a distinct threat vector that requires separate mitigation strategies. The memory corruption aspect suggests that the flaw likely involves buffer overflows, use-after-free conditions, or other classic memory management errors that can be leveraged to gain unauthorized control over system processes.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability demonstrates the inherent risks associated with complex document processing engines that must handle vast amounts of untrusted data from potentially malicious sources. When Adobe Reader or Acrobat encounters a specially crafted PDF file, the parsing routines fail to properly validate or sanitize input parameters, leading to unpredictable memory state conditions. This memory corruption can manifest in various ways including stack smashing, heap corruption, or pointer manipulation that allows attackers to overwrite critical program memory regions. The exploitability of such vulnerabilities often depends on the specific memory layout and protection mechanisms present in the target system, making the attack surface more complex and harder to predict. The fact that this vulnerability affects both classic and continuous deployment models of Adobe Acrobat DC indicates that the underlying flaw exists in core parsing libraries that are shared across different product variants. This widespread impact across multiple versions and deployment models underscores the severity of the issue and the need for comprehensive patching strategies.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-7015 extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios to encompass full system compromise capabilities that can be leveraged for advanced persistent threats. Organizations relying on Adobe Reader and Acrobat for document processing face significant risks when this vulnerability remains unpatched, as attackers can potentially execute malicious code with the privileges of the affected user. The memory corruption nature of the flaw means that successful exploitation could lead to privilege escalation, data exfiltration, or establishment of persistent backdoors within the victim environment. This vulnerability aligns with common attack patterns documented in the ATT&CK framework under techniques such as exploitation for privilege escalation and execution through malicious document attachments. The attack surface is particularly broad given that PDF files are commonly used in phishing campaigns, supply chain attacks, and social engineering operations, making this vulnerability highly attractive to threat actors. Organizations that have not updated their Adobe software installations remain at risk of exploitation, particularly in environments where users frequently open documents from untrusted sources.
Security professionals should implement immediate mitigation measures including mandatory patching of all affected Adobe Reader and Acrobat installations across enterprise environments. The vulnerability's classification as a memory corruption issue places it within CWE-122 (Heap-based Buffer Overflow) and CWE-125 (Out-of-bounds Read) categories, indicating the need for comprehensive input validation and memory management controls. Organizations should also consider implementing network-based protections such as PDF sandboxing, content filtering, and email security controls to prevent potentially malicious documents from reaching end users. Additionally, monitoring for exploitation attempts through log analysis and intrusion detection systems can help identify attempts to leverage this vulnerability. The patching process must be carefully managed to ensure compatibility with existing workflows and to avoid disrupting legitimate document processing operations. Regular security assessments should include verification of Adobe software versions and compliance with security baselines to prevent similar vulnerabilities from being exploited in the future. The remediation approach should also incorporate endpoint detection and response capabilities that can identify anomalous behavior indicative of exploitation attempts, particularly in environments where zero-day exploits may be actively deployed.