CVE-2017-16374 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. The vulnerability is caused by a buffer over-read in the JPEG 2000 module. An invalid JPEG 2000 input code stream leads to a computation where the pointer arithmetic results in a location outside valid memory locations belonging to the buffer. An attack can be used to obtain sensitive information, such as object heap addresses, etc.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/24/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-16374 represents a critical buffer over-read condition within Adobe Acrobat and Reader applications 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 flaw specifically manifests within the JPEG 2000 module responsible for processing compressed image data, making it particularly dangerous given the widespread use of PDF documents containing embedded multimedia content. The vulnerability stems from insufficient validation of input data streams, particularly when processing malformed JPEG 2000 code streams that contain invalid or malformed data structures.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves pointer arithmetic operations that fail to properly validate memory boundaries when processing JPEG 2000 encoded data. When an attacker supplies a maliciously crafted JPEG 2000 input stream, the application's processing logic computes pointer values that exceed the legitimate buffer boundaries, resulting in a memory access violation. This over-read condition allows unauthorized memory access beyond the intended data buffer, potentially exposing sensitive heap memory locations and object addresses that could be leveraged for further exploitation. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-125, which specifically addresses out-of-bounds read conditions, and represents a classic example of improper input validation leading to memory corruption.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as the exposure of heap addresses and memory locations provides attackers with critical information needed for advanced exploitation techniques. An attacker could potentially use the leaked memory addresses to bypass security mechanisms such as address space layout randomization, which relies on unpredictable memory locations for protection. The vulnerability's presence in multiple Adobe Acrobat and Reader versions indicates a widespread exposure across different product lines, making it particularly attractive to threat actors seeking maximum impact. This issue demonstrates how multimedia processing modules in document viewers can serve as attack vectors for memory corruption exploits.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-16374 should prioritize immediate patch application from Adobe, as the vendor has released security updates addressing this specific vulnerability. Organizations should implement network segmentation and content filtering to prevent untrusted PDF documents from reaching end users, particularly in high-risk environments. The implementation of sandboxing mechanisms and privilege separation can help limit the potential damage from successful exploitation attempts. Security teams should monitor for indicators of compromise related to memory access patterns and heap address leaks, while also considering the application of exploit prevention technologies such as data execution prevention and control flow integrity mechanisms. This vulnerability exemplifies the importance of robust input validation in multimedia processing components and demonstrates how seemingly minor implementation flaws in specialized code modules can create significant security risks. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this as a memory corruption vulnerability that could enable privilege escalation and information gathering activities, making it a critical target for security hardening efforts.