CVE-2017-16366 in Acrobat Reader
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in Adobe Acrobat and Reader: 2017.012.20098 and earlier versions, 2017.011.30066 and earlier versions, 2015.006.30355 and earlier versions, and 11.0.22 and earlier versions. This vulnerability is an instance of a security bypass vulnerability in the AcroPDF plugin.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/04/2024
This vulnerability represents a security bypass flaw within Adobe Acrobat and Reader applications that affects multiple version ranges including 2017.012.20098 and earlier, 2017.011.30066 and earlier, 2015.006.30355 and earlier, and 11.0.22 and earlier versions. The issue specifically resides within the AcroPDF plugin component which serves as the core rendering engine for pdf documents within the Adobe ecosystem. This security bypass vulnerability fundamentally undermines the intended access controls and sandboxing mechanisms that should protect users from malicious content within pdf files.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient validation mechanisms within the AcroPDF plugin's handling of pdf document elements and their associated permissions. When processing pdf files, the plugin fails to properly enforce security boundaries that should prevent unauthorized access to system resources or execution of malicious code. This flaw allows attackers to bypass the normal security restrictions that would typically prevent arbitrary code execution or privilege escalation. The vulnerability operates at the plugin level rather than the application level, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited through web browsers or other applications that utilize the AcroPDF plugin for pdf rendering.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation to encompass potential system compromise and data exfiltration capabilities. Attackers can leverage this security bypass to execute arbitrary code on vulnerable systems with the privileges of the user running the affected Adobe application. This creates a significant risk for enterprise environments where users may inadvertently open malicious pdf documents from email attachments or web downloads. The vulnerability's presence in multiple version ranges indicates a prolonged period during which the security flaw remained unaddressed, providing attackers with extended opportunities for exploitation. Organizations using older versions of Adobe Acrobat and Reader face heightened risk due to the widespread deployment of these applications across various industries.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate remediation through patching of affected Adobe products to the latest available versions. System administrators should implement comprehensive patch management protocols to ensure all instances of vulnerable software are updated promptly. Additional protective measures include implementing browser security policies that disable pdf plugin execution or redirect pdf viewing to safer alternative applications. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284 access control vulnerabilities and maps to attack techniques in the ATT&CK framework under privilege escalation and execution domains. Organizations should also consider network-level controls such as web application firewalls and content filtering to prevent access to known malicious pdf files. Regular security assessments and user awareness training regarding suspicious pdf attachments remain essential components of a comprehensive defense strategy against exploitation of this security bypass vulnerability.