CVE-2017-16372 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 untrusted pointer dereference in the JavaScript API engine. In this scenario, the JavaScript input is crafted in way that the computation results with pointer 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 with sensitive data exposure.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/04/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-16372 represents a critical security flaw in Adobe Acrobat and Reader software across 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. This issue resides within the JavaScript API engine component of the software, which serves as the execution environment for JavaScript code within PDF documents. The vulnerability manifests as an untrusted pointer dereference condition that occurs when maliciously crafted JavaScript input is processed by the application's interpreter. The flaw stems from inadequate validation of pointer values during JavaScript execution, allowing attackers to manipulate memory access patterns through carefully constructed input sequences. This particular vulnerability operates under the Common Weakness Enumeration classification of CWE-476 which specifically addresses NULL pointer dereference conditions, though this instance involves untrusted pointer dereference rather than simple null pointer access.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability enables attackers to craft JavaScript code that manipulates memory pointers to reference locations outside the legitimate process address space. When the JavaScript engine attempts to read from these invalid memory locations, it can inadvertently expose sensitive data that resides in those memory regions. The attack vector requires the victim to open a malicious PDF document containing the crafted JavaScript payload, which then executes within the context of the Acrobat or Reader application. The memory access pattern allows for data extraction from areas that should remain protected, potentially including confidential information stored in memory buffers, cryptographic keys, or other sensitive application data. This read-only memory access operation represents a significant information disclosure vulnerability that could lead to unauthorized data access and potential further exploitation depending on the nature of the exposed memory contents.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-16372 extends beyond simple data exposure, as it provides attackers with a mechanism to extract potentially valuable information from running Acrobat and Reader processes. The vulnerability affects multiple product versions, indicating it was present across a significant portion of the software's release history, making it a widespread concern for organizations utilizing these applications. Attackers can leverage this flaw to gather sensitive information that may include user credentials, document content, or application-specific data that could be used for additional attacks. The vulnerability's presence in the JavaScript API engine means that even documents opened from seemingly legitimate sources could contain malicious code that exploits this weakness. The attack requires user interaction through document opening, making it particularly dangerous in phishing scenarios or when users receive documents from untrusted sources.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-16372 should focus on immediate software updates to the latest versions of Adobe Acrobat and Reader where the vulnerability has been patched. Organizations should implement comprehensive patch management procedures to ensure all affected systems receive updates promptly. Network-based defenses can include PDF content filtering and sandboxing mechanisms that isolate document processing from critical system resources. Additionally, security awareness training for users can help reduce the risk of encountering malicious documents through social engineering attacks. The vulnerability's classification under ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for JavaScript execution provides guidance for security monitoring and detection, as anomalous JavaScript behavior within PDF documents can indicate exploitation attempts. System administrators should also consider implementing application control policies that restrict execution of potentially malicious JavaScript code and monitor for unusual memory access patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The remediation approach should include regular security assessments to identify and address similar vulnerabilities in other software components that may present similar memory access issues.