Adobe has released Security advisory APSB08-13 to address multiple vulnerabilities affecting Adobe Reader and Acrobat. The most severe of these vulnerabilities could allow a remote attacker to execute arbitrary code.
Adobe Security advisory APSB08-13 addresses a number of vulnerabilities affecting the Adobe Acrobat family of products, including Adobe Reader. Acrobat versions 8.1.1 and earlier are affected. Further details are available in the US-CERT Vulnerability Notes Database.
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 web site is usually sufficient to cause Acrobat to load PDF content.
At least one of these vulnerabilities is being actively exploited. The SANS Internet Storm Center Handler's Diary contains more information.
The impacts of these vulnerabilities vary. The most severe of these vulnerabilities allows a remote attacker to execute arbitrary code.
According to the information in Adobe Security bulletin APSB08-13, users with version 8 of Adobe Reader or Acrobat should upgrade to version 8.1.2. Users running version 7 of Adobe Reader or Acrobat should upgrade to version 7.1.0. This issue was initially addressed for version 8 of Adobe Reader and Acrobat in Adobe Security advisory APSA08-01.
Preventing PDF documents from opening inside a web browser may mitigate this vulnerability. Applying the following workaround in conjunction with upgrading may prevent similar vulnerabilities from being automatically exploited.
To prevent PDF documents from automatically being opened in a web browser with Acrobat or Reader:
To disable automatic opening of PDF files in Microsoft Internet Explorer (IE), a second step is required. To configure IE to prompt before opening a PDF file, disable the "Display PDF in browser" feature (as described above) and then make the following changes to the Windows registry:
Disabling JavaScript in Adobe Reader and Acrobat may prevent this vulnerability from being exploited. In Acrobat Reader, JavaScript can be disabled in the General preferences dialog (Edit --> Preferences --> JavaScript, de-select Enable Acrobat JavaScript).
Feedback can be directed to US-CERT.
Produced 2008 by US-CERT, a government organization. Terms of use
Revision History
February 12, 2008: Initial release
May 9, 2008: Added Adobe Security bulletin apsb08-13