CVE-2016-8711 in Nitro Pro
Summary
by MITRE
A potential remote code execution vulnerability exists in the PDF parsing functionality of Nitro Pro 10. A specially crafted PDF file can cause a vulnerability resulting in potential code execution. An attacker can send the victim a specific PDF file to trigger this vulnerability.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/12/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-8711 represents a critical remote code execution flaw within Nitro Pro 10's PDF parsing engine, classified under CWE-119 in the Common Weakness Enumeration framework. This vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and memory handling within the software's PDF processing capabilities, creating a pathway for malicious actors to execute arbitrary code on affected systems. The flaw specifically manifests when the application processes specially crafted PDF files that contain malformed structures designed to exploit memory corruption vulnerabilities during parsing operations.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through a buffer overflow condition that arises when Nitro Pro 10 attempts to parse malformed PDF objects. When a user opens a maliciously crafted PDF file, the application's parsing routine fails to properly validate the size and structure of embedded objects, leading to memory corruption that can be leveraged by attackers to inject and execute malicious code. This type of vulnerability falls under the ATT&CK technique T1203 - Exploitation for Client Execution, where adversaries leverage application vulnerabilities to execute code on target systems. The attack vector requires social engineering to deliver the malicious PDF file to the victim, typically through email attachments or malicious websites, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where users frequently interact with PDF documents.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-8711 extends beyond simple code execution, as successful exploitation can lead to complete system compromise and persistence mechanisms. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to establish backdoors, exfiltrate sensitive data, or deploy additional malware payloads, making it a significant threat to organizations relying on Nitro Pro for document management. The vulnerability affects systems where Nitro Pro 10 is installed and configured to automatically open PDF files, creating a broad attack surface that can be exploited across multiple user endpoints. Security professionals should note that this vulnerability demonstrates the importance of input sanitization and memory safety practices in document processing applications, as PDF parsing remains a common attack surface for sophisticated malware campaigns.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-8711 should include immediate patching of Nitro Pro 10 to the latest version that addresses the memory handling flaws in the PDF parsing engine. Organizations should implement strict email filtering and web content filtering to prevent users from accessing potentially malicious PDF files, while also educating users about the risks of opening unknown PDF documents. Network segmentation and application whitelisting can provide additional layers of protection by limiting the execution of potentially malicious code even if the vulnerability is exploited. The vulnerability also highlights the necessity of regular security assessments and penetration testing of document processing applications to identify similar memory corruption issues before they can be exploited by adversaries. System administrators should monitor for suspicious PDF file access patterns and implement endpoint detection and response solutions to identify potential exploitation attempts.