CVE-2017-16387 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 occurs as a result of a computation that reads data that is past the end of the target buffer; the computation is part of the JPEG2000 codec. The use of an invalid (out-of-range) pointer offset during access of internal data structure fields causes the vulnerability. A successful attack can lead to sensitive data exposure.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/03/2024
This vulnerability exists in Adobe Acrobat and Reader software versions prior to specific patches, affecting multiple release lines including 2017.012.20098 and earlier, 2017.011.30066 and earlier, 2015.006.30355 and earlier, and 11.0.22 and earlier versions. The flaw manifests within the JPEG2000 codec implementation where a buffer overread condition occurs during data processing. This issue represents a classic buffer overflow vulnerability that falls under the CWE-125 weakness category, specifically involving out-of-bounds read access to memory structures. The vulnerability stems from improper bounds checking within the image decoding process, where the software attempts to access memory locations beyond the allocated buffer boundaries. When processing malformed JPEG2000 image files, the application computes pointer offsets that reference memory regions outside the intended data structure, leading to unauthorized data access patterns.
The technical execution of this vulnerability occurs when the JPEG2000 codec encounters specially crafted image files that trigger the buffer overread condition. During the decoding process, the software performs arithmetic operations to calculate memory offsets for accessing internal data structures, but fails to validate that these computed offsets remain within the valid buffer boundaries. This results in the software reading memory contents that were not intended for access, potentially exposing sensitive information stored in adjacent memory locations. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it can be triggered through document processing, making it exploitable via social engineering techniques where users open maliciously crafted PDF files containing malformed JPEG2000 images. The out-of-range pointer access pattern aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter, as attackers can leverage this vulnerability to extract information from memory locations that contain credentials, encryption keys, or other sensitive data.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it can potentially enable attackers to extract confidential data from the application's memory space. When successful, the vulnerability allows for sensitive data exposure that could include user credentials, system information, or proprietary data contained within memory segments adjacent to the affected buffer. This type of information leakage can facilitate further attacks including privilege escalation, lateral movement, or data exfiltration. The vulnerability affects multiple versions across different release lines, indicating a persistent issue within Adobe's image processing implementation that required patching across various software branches. Security researchers have noted that such buffer overread conditions often serve as stepping stones for more sophisticated attacks, as they can reveal memory layout information that helps attackers craft more effective exploitation strategies. The vulnerability's presence in widely used software like Adobe Acrobat and Reader makes it particularly dangerous, as it can affect numerous enterprise environments where PDF documents are routinely processed and shared, potentially exposing sensitive organizational data through simple document opening activities.