CVE-2017-16374 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies

A vulnerability has been identified in older versions of Adobe Acrobat and Reader, leading to a buffer over-read in the JPEG 2000 module, potentially allowing unauthorized access to sensitive information.

Understanding CVE-2017-16374

What is CVE-2017-16374?

This CVE refers to a security flaw found in Adobe Acrobat Reader versions 2017.012.20098 and earlier, 2017.011.30066 and earlier, 2015.006.30355 and earlier, and 11.0.22 and earlier, caused by a buffer over-read in the JPEG 2000 module.

The Impact of CVE-2017-16374

The vulnerability could be exploited to gain access to confidential data, including object heap addresses, by manipulating an invalid JPEG 2000 input code stream.

Technical Details of CVE-2017-16374

Vulnerability Description

The issue arises due to a buffer over-read in the JPEG 2000 module, allowing attackers to access sensitive information by exceeding valid memory buffer locations.

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 exploited by using an invalid JPEG 2000 input code stream to manipulate pointer arithmetic, leading to unauthorized access to memory locations beyond the buffer.

Mitigation and Prevention

Immediate Steps to Take

Update Adobe Acrobat Reader to the latest version to patch the vulnerability.
Avoid opening PDF files from untrusted sources.
Implement network security measures to detect and block malicious PDF files.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update software and applications to mitigate known vulnerabilities.
Conduct security training to educate users on identifying and handling potential threats.

Patching and Updates

Apply security patches and updates provided by Adobe to address the CVE-2017-16374 vulnerability.