CVE-2017-16405 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 Acrobat's page display functionality. 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 version ranges, representing a classic buffer over-read condition that fundamentally compromises memory safety. The flaw manifests within the page display functionality where Acrobat performs computations that access memory locations beyond the intended buffer boundaries. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-125 weakness category, which specifically addresses out-of-bounds read conditions that occur when a program attempts to read data past the end of a buffer. The vulnerability affects versions including 2017.012.20098 and earlier, 2017.011.30066 and earlier, 2015.006.30355 and earlier, and 11.0.22 and earlier, indicating a widespread issue affecting both newer and legacy software releases.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves improper pointer arithmetic during the rendering of PDF pages, where the application calculates memory offsets that extend beyond valid buffer limits. When Acrobat's internal data structures are accessed using invalid pointer offsets, the system attempts to read memory locations that may contain sensitive information from adjacent memory regions. This behavior aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007, where adversaries might exploit memory corruption vulnerabilities to access unintended data. The out-of-bounds memory access creates a potential information disclosure scenario where attackers could potentially extract confidential data, credentials, or other sensitive information stored in memory locations adjacent to the targeted buffer.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure to encompass potential system compromise through information gathering. Attackers who successfully exploit this vulnerability could gain access to sensitive data that might include user credentials, system information, or other confidential materials stored in memory. The vulnerability's presence in multiple version ranges suggests that organizations using older Adobe Acrobat and Reader installations face significant risk exposure. Security researchers have identified this as a critical concern for enterprise environments where PDF documents are frequently processed and where sensitive information is commonly handled. The vulnerability's exploitation potential aligns with ATT&CK tactic TA0006, which covers credential access and information gathering through memory corruption techniques.
Organizations should prioritize immediate remediation by updating to patched versions of Adobe Acrobat and Reader, as the vulnerability represents a significant risk to data confidentiality. System administrators should implement comprehensive patch management processes to ensure all affected installations are updated promptly. The vulnerability's classification as a buffer over-read condition makes it particularly susceptible to exploitation through crafted PDF documents, making user education and awareness programs essential. Additionally, network segmentation and application whitelisting policies can help mitigate potential exploitation attempts, while monitoring for unusual memory access patterns can aid in detecting potential exploitation attempts. Security teams should also consider implementing intrusion detection systems that can identify attempts to exploit memory corruption vulnerabilities, particularly those targeting PDF processing components.