US-CERT Technical Cyber Security Alert TA09-051A -- Adobe Acrobat and Reader Vulnerability

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National Cyber Alert System

Technical Cyber Security Alert TA09-051A

Adobe Acrobat and Reader Vulnerability

Original release date: February 20, 2009
Last revised: --
Source: US-CERT

Systems Affected

* Adobe Reader version 9 and earlier
* Adobe Acrobat (Professional, 3D, and Standard) version 9 and earlier

Overview

Adobe has released Security Bulletin APSB09-01, which describes a
vulnerability that affects Adobe Reader and Acrobat. This
vulnerability could allow a remote attacker to execute arbitrary
code.

I. Description

Adobe Security Bulletin APSB09-01 describes a memory-corruption
vulnerability that affects Adobe Reader and Acrobat. Further
details are available in Vulnerability Note VU#905281. An attacker
could exploit these vulnerabilities by convincing a user to load a
specially crafted Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) file.
Acrobat integrates with popular web browsers, and visiting a
website is usually sufficient to cause Acrobat to load PDF content.

II. Impact

An attacker may be able to execute arbitrary code.

III. Solution

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 and 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 the safer option of
prompting 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

* Adobe Security Bulletin apsa09-01 -
<http://www.adobe.com/support/security/advisories/apsa09-01.html>

* Securing Your Web Browser -
<http://www.us-cert.gov/reading_room/securing_browser/>

* Vulnerability Note VU#905281 -
<http://www.kb.cert.org/vuls/id/905281>

____________________________________________________________________

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

<http://www.us-cert.gov/cas/techalerts/TA09-051A.html>
____________________________________________________________________

Feedback can be directed to US-CERT Technical Staff. Please send
email to <cert@cert.org> with "TA09-051A Feedback VU#905281" 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

February 20, 2009: Initial release

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