Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2016-4157 is a local privilege escalation issue in older Windows installers for Adobe Creative Cloud Desktop Application. A local user could abuse an untrusted search path by placing a malicious resource where the installer might load it. This is not shown as actively exploited in the provided sources.
Executive priority
Prioritize remediation where Adobe Creative Cloud is installed on managed Windows workstations, especially shared or developer endpoints. The issue is local, old, and not KEV-listed, so it should be handled through normal endpoint patch governance rather than emergency response.
Technical view
The CVE describes an untrusted search path vulnerability in the Adobe Creative Cloud Desktop Application installer before 3.7.0.272 on Windows. A local attacker could gain privileges through a Trojan horse resource in an unspecified directory. The bundle does not provide CVSS, CWE, or detailed affected CPE data.
Likely exposure
Exposure is limited to Windows systems using Adobe Creative Cloud Desktop Application installers before version 3.7.0.272. Systems without this legacy installer path are unlikely to be affected based on the provided evidence.
Exploitation context
The provided CVE data requires local user access and does not identify remote exploitation. KEV is false, and the bundle contains no cited evidence of active exploitation in the wild.
Researcher notes
Key missing details include CVSS, CWE classification, exact search path behavior, and the unspecified directory. Do not assume broader Adobe products are affected. Validate against Adobe Creative Cloud Desktop Application on Windows before version 3.7.0.272 only.
Mitigation direction
- Upgrade Adobe Creative Cloud Desktop Application to 3.7.0.272 or later.
- Review Adobe APSB16-21 for vendor-specific remediation guidance.
- Remove or quarantine legacy installer packages from managed endpoints.
- Restrict software installation rights to trusted administrators where practical.
Validation and detection
- Inventory Windows endpoints for Creative Cloud Desktop Application versions below 3.7.0.272.
- Confirm deployment tooling no longer uses vulnerable installer packages.
- Review Adobe advisory APSB16-21 against installed versions.
- Check endpoint management records for completed Creative Cloud updates.
Public sources used
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context
These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.
ATT&CK lookup starting points
Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.
CVE-2016-4157 mapping review
Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.
Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- Unknown
- CVSS
- Not scored
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5
These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.
CVSS and timeline data
No CVSS vectors or timeline events were available in the normalized CVE source material.
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://helpx.adobe.com/security/products/creative-cloud/apsb16-21.htmlCVE reference · x_refsource_CONFIRM
Products and packages named in the record
CWE details
CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.