CVE-2017-16420 : What You Need to Know

A vulnerability has been identified 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. The vulnerability allows unauthorized access to internal data structures through an out-of-bounds read issue in the JavaScript engine.

Understanding CVE-2017-16420

This CVE involves a critical security flaw in Adobe Acrobat and Reader that could potentially lead to sensitive data exposure.

What is CVE-2017-16420?

The vulnerability arises when the JavaScript engine, responsible for annotation abstraction, reads data beyond the intended buffer limit. By utilizing an invalid pointer offset, attackers can gain unauthorized access to internal data structures, risking the exposure of sensitive information.

The Impact of CVE-2017-16420

Exploiting this vulnerability can potentially expose sensitive data, leading to severe consequences such as data breaches and unauthorized access to confidential information.

Technical Details of CVE-2017-16420

This section provides more in-depth technical insights into the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The issue occurs due to a computation that reads data beyond the target buffer's end in the JavaScript engine, specifically in the annotation abstraction part. An out-of-range pointer offset during access to internal data structure fields triggers the 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 exploited by using an invalid pointer offset to access internal data structures, allowing attackers to read sensitive information beyond the intended buffer limits.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2017-16420 requires immediate actions and long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update Adobe Acrobat and Reader to the latest patched versions.
Implement security measures to restrict unauthorized access to critical systems.
Monitor system logs for any suspicious activities that could indicate exploitation attempts.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update software and applications to patch known vulnerabilities.
Conduct security training for employees to raise awareness of potential threats and best practices.
Employ network segmentation to limit the impact of potential breaches.

Patching and Updates

Adobe has released security updates to address CVE-2017-16420. It is crucial to apply these patches promptly to mitigate the risk of exploitation.