CVE-2017-16402 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 JPEG 2000 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.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/03/2024
This vulnerability exists in Adobe Acrobat and Reader software across multiple versions, representing a critical buffer overflow condition that stems from improper handling of JPEG 2000 image data processing. The flaw manifests when the application attempts to read data beyond the boundaries of a targeted memory buffer during JPEG 2000 decoding operations. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-125 weakness category, which specifically addresses "Out-of-bounds Read" conditions where programs access memory locations beyond the allocated buffer boundaries. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it occurs within the core image processing module that handles JPEG 2000 format files, a common document element in professional and enterprise environments.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves a computation that calculates an invalid pointer offset during internal data structure field access. When processing malformed or specially crafted JPEG 2000 files, the application's JPEG 2000 decoder module performs arithmetic operations that result in memory access patterns extending beyond the intended buffer limits. This out-of-range pointer access creates a condition where the application may read sensitive information from adjacent memory locations, potentially exposing confidential data such as passwords, encryption keys, or other protected information stored in the application's memory space. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by the fact that it can be triggered through normal document processing operations, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where users frequently open documents from untrusted sources.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data exposure to encompass potential system compromise and information leakage. Attackers can exploit this condition by crafting malicious JPEG 2000 files that, when opened in vulnerable Adobe applications, trigger the buffer overflow and cause the application to read sensitive data from memory. This vulnerability is particularly relevant in the context of the ATT&CK framework's information gathering tactics, where adversaries seek to extract sensitive information from compromised systems. The vulnerability affects multiple product versions including Acrobat Reader DC, Acrobat DC, and older versions of Acrobat and Reader, making it a widespread concern across different deployment scenarios. Organizations using these applications are at risk of exposure when processing documents from untrusted sources, as the vulnerability can be exploited through simple document opening operations without requiring user interaction beyond normal application usage.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate patch application as provided by Adobe, which addresses the buffer overflow condition in the JPEG 2000 processing module. Organizations should implement comprehensive patch management procedures to ensure all affected versions are updated promptly, as the vulnerability affects multiple release streams including the latest major versions. Additionally, network segmentation and access controls should be implemented to limit exposure, particularly in environments where users may encounter untrusted documents. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual memory access patterns or application behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of input validation and bounds checking in multimedia processing libraries, and organizations should consider implementing additional security controls such as application whitelisting and sandboxing to reduce the attack surface. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify and remediate similar issues in other third-party applications and libraries used within the organization's computing environment.