US-CERT Technical Cyber Security Alert TA09-286B -- Adobe Reader and Acrobat Vulnerabilities

[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]

 



-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
Hash: SHA1


                    National Cyber Alert System

              Technical Cyber Security Alert TA09-286B


Adobe Reader and Acrobat Vulnerabilities

   Original release date: 
   Last revised: --
   Source: US-CERT


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.


I. 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.


II. 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.


III. 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.


IV. 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>

 ____________________________________________________________________

   The most recent version of this document can be found at:

     <http://www.us-cert.gov/cas/techalerts/TA09-286B.html>
 ____________________________________________________________________

   Feedback can be directed to US-CERT Technical Staff. Please send
   email to <cert@xxxxxxxx> with "TA09-286B Feedback VU#257117" in
   the subject.
 ____________________________________________________________________

   For instructions on subscribing to or unsubscribing from this
   mailing list, visit <http://www.us-cert.gov/cas/signup.html>.
 ____________________________________________________________________

   Produced 2009 by US-CERT, a government organization.

   Terms of use:

     <http://www.us-cert.gov/legal.html>
 ____________________________________________________________________

Revision History
  
  October 13, 2009: Initial release


-----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE-----
Version: GnuPG v1.4.5 (GNU/Linux)

iQEVAwUBStTr99ucaIvSvh1ZAQJsWwf+Pttkav58Zf/kBUMI2RFmHEc92fjtPZND
GzSRC+Aul2Hyb+jsQfHiAbrLB6gaoGEzgafA34voE9ukh4I5Oi4czfF7vEp4rVzi
U4TCasgadEzck5UdPPjJ4CgpeRYvgGAaY9Qupc5BydA9rkgBpvFRGkckC42n/jJb
SShVnhaO5eqXSUJsxVRtwtLvcjot5A3HAuUE9Ni27kBdpMB85S4nZQE6XDwlI717
5jExXpy2IG6g+fkDEOxfWjWtyL/XJyIfRg8PTeqz40p0gHxdzJpUKLPhcrOFKCoU
RgBbu3RFjeKA6LUq/vwrvVHNwVlmJc+SPf0gTkEccd/5GhCeu0OCUA==
=UhqI
-----END PGP SIGNATURE-----

[Index of Archives]     [Fedora Announce]     [Linux Crypto]     [Kernel]     [Netfilter]     [Bugtraq]     [USB]     [Fedora Security]

  Powered by Linux