CVE-2017-16371 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 issue is due to an untrusted pointer dereference in the JavaScript engine. In this scenario, the input is crafted in a way that the computation results in pointers to memory locations that do not belong to the relevant process address space. The dereferencing operation is a read operation, and an attack can result in sensitive data exposure.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/04/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-16371 represents a critical memory safety issue affecting multiple versions of Adobe Acrobat and Reader software. This flaw exists within the JavaScript engine component of these applications, specifically manifesting as an untrusted pointer dereference condition that can be exploited by malicious actors. The vulnerability impacts versions including 2017.012.20098 and earlier, 2017.011.30066 and earlier, 2015.006.30355 and earlier, and 11.0.22 and earlier versions of the software. The core issue stems from insufficient validation of pointer values during JavaScript execution, allowing attackers to craft malicious input that manipulates memory access patterns.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when crafted JavaScript code is executed within the Adobe Reader environment, specifically targeting the JavaScript engine's handling of memory pointers. When the application processes malicious input, the computation results in pointers that reference memory locations outside the legitimate process address space. This untrusted pointer dereference typically manifests as a read operation, where the application attempts to access memory that does not belong to the current process. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it allows attackers to potentially extract sensitive data from memory locations that should remain protected, creating opportunities for information disclosure attacks.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to organizations relying on Adobe Acrobat and Reader for document processing and viewing. The untrusted pointer dereference can lead to unauthorized data exposure, potentially compromising sensitive documents, user credentials, or system information. Attackers can leverage this flaw through various delivery mechanisms including malicious PDF files embedded with crafted JavaScript code, making it particularly dangerous in phishing campaigns or targeted attacks. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple data exposure, as it can serve as a stepping stone for more sophisticated attacks that may escalate privileges or establish persistent access within compromised systems. This type of vulnerability is classified under CWE-476 as "NULL Pointer Dereference" and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for JavaScript execution, demonstrating how client-side applications can be exploited through scripting vulnerabilities.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should prioritize immediate remediation through official Adobe security patches and updates. The recommended mitigation strategy involves implementing strict access controls for PDF file handling, deploying sandboxing solutions to isolate PDF processing, and maintaining comprehensive network monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts. Security teams should also consider implementing application whitelisting policies to restrict execution of untrusted PDF content and regularly audit system configurations to ensure proper patch management. Additionally, user education regarding the dangers of opening untrusted PDF files and the importance of keeping software updated remains crucial in defending against this type of vulnerability. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper memory management practices in software development and underscores the necessity of thorough security testing, particularly for components handling user-supplied data.