CVE-2017-16410 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 a result of untrusted input that is used to calculate an array index; the calculation occurs in the image conversion module, when processing GIF files. The vulnerability leads to an operation that can write to a memory location that is outside of the memory addresses allocated for the data structure. The specific scenario leads to a write access to a memory location that does not belong to the relevant process address space.
Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/03/2024
This vulnerability in Adobe Acrobat and Reader represents a classic buffer overflow condition that arises from improper input validation during image processing operations. The flaw exists within the image conversion module specifically when handling GIF files, where untrusted input is used to calculate array indices without adequate bounds checking. The vulnerability affects 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, indicating this represents a long-standing issue that persisted across multiple product iterations. From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-129, which describes improper validation of array index values, and specifically manifests as a memory corruption vulnerability that can result in arbitrary code execution. The technical implementation involves the processing of GIF file metadata where maliciously crafted image data can cause the application to compute an incorrect array index, leading to memory access violations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it creates opportunities for remote code execution attacks when users open maliciously crafted GIF files. When the vulnerable application processes such files, the improper array index calculation causes the program to write data to memory locations outside the intended data structure boundaries, potentially allowing attackers to overwrite critical memory segments or inject malicious code. This type of memory corruption vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be exploited to gain control over the application's execution flow, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The vulnerability's exploitability is enhanced by the fact that it occurs during routine file processing operations, making it accessible through common attack vectors such as email attachments, web downloads, or malicious websites. Attackers can leverage this weakness to execute arbitrary commands with the privileges of the affected application, which typically runs with user-level permissions but could potentially be escalated.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate remediation through official patches provided by Adobe, as well as implementing additional security controls to reduce the attack surface. Organizations should ensure all affected versions are updated to the latest security patches, which typically include input validation improvements and memory access controls within the image processing modules. Network-based protections such as web application firewalls and content filtering systems can help detect and block malicious GIF files before they reach end users. Additionally, user education regarding the dangers of opening untrusted file attachments and implementing least privilege principles for application execution can significantly reduce the potential impact. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving privilege escalation and code injection, specifically leveraging initial access through malicious file attachments to achieve persistent system compromise. Security monitoring should focus on detecting anomalous memory access patterns and unusual file processing activities that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of secure coding practices including bounds checking, input validation, and proper memory management to prevent similar issues in future software development cycles.