Alert (TA09-286B)
Adobe Reader and Acrobat Vulnerabilities
Systems Affected
- Adobe Reader and Acrobat 9.1.3 and earlier 9.x versions
- Adobe Reader and Acrobat 8.1.6 and earlier 8.x versions
- Adobe Reader and Acrobat 7.1.3 and earlier 7.x versions
Overview
Adobe has released Security bulletin APSB09-15, which describes multiple vulnerabilities affecting Adobe Reader and Acrobat.
Description
Adobe Security Advisory APSB09-15 describes a number of vulnerabilities affecting Adobe Reader and Acrobat. These vulnerabilities affect Reader 9.1.3 and earlier 9.x versions, 8.1.6 and earlier 8.x versions, and 7.1.3 and earlier 7.x versions.
An attacker could exploit these vulnerabilities by convincing a user to open a specially crafted PDF file. The Adobe Reader browser plug-in is available for multiple Web browsers and operating systems, which can automatically open PDF documents hosted on a Web site.
These vulnerabilities are being actively exploited.
Impact
These vulnerabilities allow a remote attacker to execute arbitrary code, write arbitrary files or folders to the filesystem, escalate local privileges, or cause a denial of service on an affected system as the result of a user opening a malicious PDF document.
Solution
Update
Adobe has released updates to address this issue. Users are encouraged to read Adobe Security Bulletin APSB09-15 and update vulnerable versions of Adobe Reader and Acrobat.
Enable
Data Execution Prevention (DEP) in Microsoft Windows
Consider enabling Data Execution Prevention (DEP) in supported versions of Windows. DEP should not be treated as a complete workaround, but DEP can mitigate the execution of attacker-supplied code in some cases. Microsoft has published detailed technical information about DEP in Security Research & Defense blog posts "Understanding DEP as a mitigation technology" part 1 and part 2. Use of DEP should be considered in conjunction with the application of patches or other mitigations described in this document.
Disable
JavaScript in Adobe Reader and Acrobat
Disabling JavaScript
may prevent some exploits from resulting in code execution. Acrobat JavaScript
can be disabled using the Preferences menu (Edit ->
Preferences -> JavaScript; un-check Enable Acrobat
JavaScript).
Prevent Internet Explorer from automatically
opening PDF documents
The installer for Adobe Reader and
Acrobat configures Internet Explorer to automatically open PDF files without any
user interaction. This behavior can be reverted to a safer option that prompts
the user by importing the following as a .REG file:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\AcroExch.Document.7]
"EditFlags"=hex:00,00,00,00
Disable the display of PDF
documents in the Web browser
Preventing PDF documents from
opening inside a Web browser will partially mitigate this vulnerability. If this
workaround is applied it may also mitigate future vulnerabilities.
To prevent PDF documents from automatically being opened in a Web browser, do
the following:
1. Open Adobe Acrobat Reader.
2. Open the
Edit menu.
3. Choose the preferences option.
4.
Choose the Internet section.
5. Un-check the "Display
PDF in browser" check box.
Do not access PDF documents
from untrusted sources
Do not open unfamiliar or unexpected PDF
documents, particularly those hosted on Web sites or delivered as email
attachments. Please see Cyber Security Tip ST04-010.
References
- APSB09-15 Security Advisory for Adobe Reader and Acrobat - http://www.adobe.com/support/security/bulletins/apsb09-15.html
- Understanding DEP as a mitigation technology part 1 - http://blogs.technet.com/srd/archive/2009/06/05/understanding-dep-as-a-mitigation-technology-part-1.aspx
- Understanding DEP as a mitigation technology part 2 - http://blogs.technet.com/srd/archive/2009/06/12/understanding-dep-as-a-mitigation-technology-part-2.aspx
Revision History
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