CVE-2017-16400 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 JPEG 2000 parser. 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 in Adobe Acrobat and Reader represents a classic buffer overread flaw that stems from improper bounds checking within the JPEG 2000 parser component. The issue manifests when the application processes malformed JPEG 2000 image data, specifically during the parsing of image headers and metadata structures. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-125 as an out-of-bounds read, where the application attempts to access memory locations beyond the allocated buffer boundaries. This type of flaw falls squarely within the ATT&CK framework under T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter and T1557.001 for proxy through system. The vulnerability affects multiple product versions including the 2017, 2015, and 11.0.x series, indicating a long-standing issue that persisted across several major releases.
The technical mechanism behind this vulnerability involves the JPEG 2000 parser's handling of pointer arithmetic during image data processing. When the parser encounters specially crafted JPEG 2000 files, it performs calculations that result in invalid pointer offsets, causing the application to read beyond the intended buffer limits. This out-of-range memory access can potentially expose sensitive information from adjacent memory regions, including cryptographic keys, user credentials, or other confidential data stored in the application's memory space. The flaw is particularly dangerous because JPEG 2000 is a widely supported image format, making the attack surface broad and potentially exploitable through various document delivery methods. The vulnerability can be triggered through simple document opening operations, requiring no special privileges or user interaction beyond normal application usage.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data exposure, as it can enable attackers to extract sensitive information from the target system's memory. This type of information disclosure can lead to credential theft, system compromise, or further exploitation attempts. The vulnerability's presence in widely used software applications like Adobe Acrobat Reader makes it particularly attractive to threat actors seeking to conduct reconnaissance or establish persistent access. The attack vector is relatively straightforward, requiring only that a victim open a maliciously crafted document containing malformed JPEG 2000 data. This makes the vulnerability suitable for phishing campaigns, social engineering attacks, or supply chain compromises where attackers can deliver malicious documents through legitimate channels.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate software updates and patches provided by Adobe, which address the buffer overread condition in the JPEG 2000 parser. Organizations should implement comprehensive patch management procedures to ensure all affected versions are updated promptly. Additional protective measures include deploying application whitelisting solutions to restrict execution of untrusted documents, implementing network-based intrusion detection systems to monitor for exploitation attempts, and configuring email security solutions to filter potentially malicious documents containing JPEG 2000 content. Security monitoring should focus on identifying unusual memory access patterns or attempts to read beyond buffer boundaries, which can indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability also underscores the importance of regular security assessments and code reviews focusing on memory safety practices, particularly in image processing libraries and components that handle untrusted input data.