Multiple Vulnerabilities in Adobe Reader and Adobe Acrobat Could Allow Remote Code Execution (APSB16-10)

ITS Advisory Number:

2016-064

Date(s) Issued:

Friday, April 8, 2016

Subject:

Multiple Vulnerabilities in Adobe Reader and Adobe Acrobat Could Allow Remote Code Execution (APSB16-10)

Overview:

Multiple vulnerabilities have been discovered in Adobe Flash Player that could allow for remote code execution. Adobe Flash Player is a widely distributed multimedia and application player used to enhance the user experience when visiting web pages or reading email messages. Successful exploitation of these vulnerabilities may allow for remote code execution in the context of the current user. Failed exploit attempts will likely result in denial-of-service conditions.

Systems Affected:

Adobe Flash Player Desktop Runtime prior to 21.0.0.213 for Windows and Macintosh
Adobe Flash Player Extended Support Release prior to 18.0.0.343 for Windows and Macintosh
Adobe Flash Player for Google Chrome prior to 21.0.0.213 for Windows, Macintosh, Linux and ChromeOS
Adobe Flash Player for Microsoft Edge and Internet Explorer 11 prior to 21.0.0.213 for Windows 10
Adobe Flash Player for Internet Explorer 11 prior to 21.0.0.213 for Windows 8.1
Adobe Flash Player for Linux prior to 11.2.202.616 for Linux

RISK

GOVERNMENT

Large and medium government entities:

High

Small government entities:

Medium

BUSINESS

Large and medium business entities:

High

Small business entities:

Medium

Home Users:

Low

Description:

Adobe Flash Player is prone to multiple vulnerabilities which could allow for remote code execution. These vulnerabilities are as follows:

These updates harden a mitigation against JIT spraying attacks that could be used to bypass memory layout randomization mitigations (CVE-2016-1006).
These updates resolve type confusion vulnerabilities that could lead to code execution (CVE-2016-1015, CVE-2016-1019).
These updates resolve use-after-free vulnerabilities that could lead to code execution (CVE-2016-1011, CVE-2016-1013, CVE-2016-1016, CVE-2016-1017, CVE-2016-1031).
These updates resolve memory corruption vulnerabilities that could lead to code execution (CVE-2016-1012, CVE-2016-1020, CVE-2016-1021, CVE-2016-1022, CVE-2016-1023, CVE-2016-1024, CVE-2016-1025, CVE-2016-1026, CVE-2016-1027, CVE-2016-1028, CVE-2016-1029, CVE-2016-1032, CVE-2016-1033).
These updates resolve a stack overflow vulnerability that could lead to code execution (CVE-2016-1018).
These updates resolve a security bypass vulnerability (CVE-2016-1030).
These updates resolve a vulnerability in the directory search path used to find resources that could lead to code execution (CVE-2016-1014).

Successful exploitation could potentially allow an attacker to take control of the affected system. An attacker could then install programs; view, change, or delete data; or create new accounts with full system rights.

Actions:

After appropriate testing, apply applicable patch provided by Adobe to vulnerable systems.
Remind users not to visit websites or follow links provided by unknown or untrusted sources.
Inform and educate users regarding the threats posed by hypertext links contained in emails or attachments especially from un-trusted sources.
Run all software as a non-privileged user (one without administrative privileges) to diminish the effects of a successful attack.

References:

Adobe:
https://helpx.adobe.com/security/products/flash-player/apsb16-10.html

http://blogs.adobe.com/psirt/?p=1334

CVE:

https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2016-1006

https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2016-1011

https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2016-1012

https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2016-1013

https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2016-1014

https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2016-1015

https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2016-1016

https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2016-1017