CVE-2017-16416 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

Adobe Acrobat and Reader versions 2017.012.20098 and earlier, 2017.011.30066 and earlier, 2015.006.30355 and earlier, and 11.0.22 and earlier are affected by a critical vulnerability that could allow attackers to manipulate data or execute unauthorized code.

Understanding CVE-2017-16416

This CVE identifies a specific vulnerability in Adobe Acrobat and Reader versions.

What is CVE-2017-16416?

The vulnerability in Adobe Acrobat and Reader versions 2017.012.20098 and earlier, 2017.011.30066 and earlier, 2015.006.30355 and earlier, and 11.0.22 and earlier allows for potential data manipulation and unauthorized code execution.

The Impact of CVE-2017-16416

The vulnerability could be exploited by attackers to access and manipulate confidential information or execute unauthorized code on affected systems.

Technical Details of CVE-2017-16416

This section provides technical details of the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The issue arises from a calculation error in the image conversion module handling EMF+ data, leading to an out-of-bounds write vulnerability.

Affected Systems and Versions

Adobe Acrobat Reader 2017.012.20098 and earlier versions
Adobe Acrobat Reader 2017.011.30066 and earlier versions
Adobe Acrobat Reader 2015.006.30355 and earlier versions
Adobe Acrobat Reader 11.0.22 and earlier versions

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability is due to an out-of-range pointer offset used to access internal data structures, allowing attackers to corrupt data or execute arbitrary code.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protective measures to address the CVE-2017-16416 vulnerability.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update Adobe Acrobat and Reader to the latest patched versions.
Implement security best practices to minimize the risk of exploitation.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update software and apply security patches promptly.
Conduct security assessments and audits to identify and mitigate vulnerabilities.

Patching and Updates

Adobe has released patches to address the vulnerability. Ensure all affected systems are updated with the latest security fixes.