CVE-2017-16396 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 access with an incorrect length value in the TIFF processing module. Crafted input causes a mismatch between allocated buffer size and the access allowed by the computation. If an attacker can adequately control the accessible memory then this vulnerability can be leveraged to achieve arbitrary code execution.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/24/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-16396 represents a critical buffer overflow condition within Adobe Acrobat and Reader applications affecting 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 exists within the TIFF processing module where improper handling of buffer sizes creates a scenario where the allocated memory space does not match the actual data access requirements. The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from a fundamental mismatch between the buffer allocation length and the computation that determines how much data can be safely accessed, creating a classic buffer over-read condition that can be exploited by malicious actors.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple memory corruption as it provides attackers with a pathway to achieve arbitrary code execution within the context of the affected applications. When a maliciously crafted TIFF file is processed by the vulnerable software, the incorrect buffer length calculation allows an attacker to manipulate memory access patterns in a way that can overwrite critical program data or execute unintended code sequences. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-122 which specifically addresses buffer overflow conditions where insufficient space allocation leads to memory corruption. The exploitation potential is particularly concerning because TIFF files are commonly encountered in business and personal environments, making this vulnerability highly accessible to threat actors.
From a threat modeling perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059 which involves executing malicious code through legitimate system processes. The attack vector typically involves social engineering campaigns where users are诱导 to open malicious TIFF attachments, either through email phishing or compromised websites. The privilege escalation aspect of this vulnerability means that successful exploitation could allow attackers to execute code with the same privileges as the targeted application, potentially leading to full system compromise. Security professionals should note that the vulnerability's exploitation requires some degree of memory control, suggesting that attackers may need to employ additional techniques such as memory layout manipulation or information disclosure attacks to achieve reliable exploitation. Organizations should prioritize patching affected versions and implementing content filtering measures to prevent the execution of untrusted TIFF files, while also monitoring for suspicious file access patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input validation and memory management in multimedia processing libraries, where the complexity of image format handling can introduce subtle but dangerous flaws that can be weaponized at scale.