CVE-2017-16411 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 WebCapture module, related to an internal hash table implementation. 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 • 09/04/2024
This vulnerability exists in Adobe Acrobat and Reader software across 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. The issue stems from improper buffer boundary checking within the WebCapture module which is responsible for capturing web content and managing internal data structures. The vulnerability manifests when the software performs a computation that accesses data beyond the allocated buffer boundaries, specifically within an internal hash table implementation that handles web content capture operations.
The technical flaw represents a classic buffer overflow condition categorized under CWE-125 as an out-of-bounds read vulnerability. During normal operation, the WebCapture module maintains internal hash tables to organize and manage captured web elements. When processing certain malformed or specially crafted web content, the software's hash table implementation fails to properly validate pointer offsets before accessing internal data structure fields. This invalid pointer arithmetic results in reading memory locations that extend beyond the intended buffer boundaries, potentially exposing sensitive information stored in adjacent memory regions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data exposure to potentially enable more sophisticated attacks. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could gain access to sensitive data that might include user credentials, system information, or other confidential content stored in memory. The vulnerability's location within the WebCapture module suggests that it could be triggered through web page content or PDF files containing malicious embedded web elements. This makes it particularly dangerous in environments where users frequently open PDF documents from untrusted sources, as the attack vector could be delivered through email attachments or web downloads.
From a threat modeling perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter, as it could enable attackers to extract sensitive information that might later be used to facilitate further attacks. The vulnerability's nature makes it particularly suitable for information gathering operations where attackers seek to extract confidential data from memory. Security professionals should consider this vulnerability as part of a broader exploitation chain where initial access might be achieved through social engineering or other vectors, followed by information extraction through this buffer overflow. Organizations should prioritize patch management to address this vulnerability across all affected Adobe Acrobat and Reader installations, as the exposure of sensitive data could have significant implications for user privacy and organizational security. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper memory management and boundary checking in software applications, particularly those handling untrusted input data from web sources.