CVE-2017-16394 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 a part of the WebCapture module. 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.
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/03/2024
This vulnerability exists in Adobe Acrobat and Reader applications across multiple versions including 2017.012.20098 and earlier, 2017.011.30066 and earlier, 2015.006.30355 and earlier, and 11.0.22 and earlier. The flaw resides within the WebCapture module which handles web content capture functionality. The vulnerability manifests as a buffer over-read condition where the application attempts to access memory locations beyond the bounds of allocated buffer space. This occurs during the processing of web content when the application computes pointer offsets that reference invalid memory addresses. The underlying technical issue represents a classic buffer overflow vulnerability that falls under the CWE-125 category of "Out-of-bounds Read" as defined in the Common Weakness Enumeration catalog. The improper handling of memory access operations within the WebCapture module creates an exploitable condition where maliciously crafted web content can trigger the vulnerability.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple memory corruption as it enables unauthorized access to sensitive data stored in memory. When the application processes malformed web content through the WebCapture module, the out-of-bounds memory read can expose confidential information that resides in adjacent memory locations. This includes but is not limited to user credentials, personal data, system information, or other sensitive application state data. The vulnerability's exploitation potential aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for "Command and Scripting Interpreter: PowerShell" and T1566.001 for "Phishing: Spearphishing Attachment" as attackers could craft malicious PDF files containing crafted web content to trigger this vulnerability. The exposure of sensitive data through memory read operations represents a significant privacy and security risk for organizations relying on Adobe Acrobat and Reader for document processing.
Mitigation strategies should prioritize immediate patching of affected Adobe Acrobat and Reader versions to address the buffer over-read condition in the WebCapture module. Organizations should implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure to potentially malicious web content. Security teams should deploy intrusion detection systems capable of identifying suspicious PDF file processing activities and monitor for anomalous memory access patterns. The vulnerability's remediation requires updating to Adobe Acrobat and Reader versions that have patched the WebCapture module's memory handling routines. Additionally, implementing application whitelisting policies that restrict execution of untrusted PDF files can provide defense-in-depth protection. Regular security assessments should verify that the patched versions are properly deployed across all endpoints, and continuous monitoring should be maintained to detect any potential exploitation attempts targeting this vulnerability. The fix addresses the root cause by properly validating memory access operations and ensuring that pointer calculations remain within legitimate buffer boundaries.