CVE-2017-16385 : What You Need to Know

A vulnerability has been found 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. This vulnerability is the result of an incorrect length value in TIFF parsing during XPS conversion, leading to a buffer access issue. Exploiting this vulnerability requires the attacker to have sufficient control over the accessible memory, enabling arbitrary code execution.

Understanding CVE-2017-16385

This CVE identifies a critical vulnerability in Adobe Acrobat and Reader versions that can be exploited by attackers to execute arbitrary code.

What is CVE-2017-16385?

The vulnerability in Adobe Acrobat and Reader versions allows attackers to manipulate TIFF images to trigger a buffer access issue, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution.

The Impact of CVE-2017-16385

Attackers can exploit this vulnerability to execute arbitrary code on affected systems.
Successful exploitation requires the attacker to have significant control over accessible memory.

Technical Details of CVE-2017-16385

This section provides detailed technical information about the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability stems from an incorrect length value in TIFF parsing during XPS conversion, resulting in a buffer access issue.

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

Attackers exploit the vulnerability by using specially crafted TIFF images as input.
A mismatch between the allocated buffer size and access allowed by computation is leveraged.
Successful exploitation requires the attacker to have sufficient control over accessible memory.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2017-16385 requires immediate actions and long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update Adobe Acrobat and Reader to the latest patched versions.
Be cautious when opening TIFF images from untrusted sources.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update software and apply security patches promptly.
Implement robust security measures to prevent unauthorized access to memory.

Patching and Updates

Adobe has released security updates to address this vulnerability.
Ensure all systems running affected versions are updated with the latest patches.