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Home > Products and services > CSIRTUK advisories > Advisories archive > June 2008 > 3646 - Security Update available for Adobe Reader and Acrobat 8.1.2

June 2008

3646 - Security Update available for Adobe Reader and Acrobat 8.1.2

ID: 3646
Date: 24/06/2008

Title: 3646 - Security Update available for Adobe Reader and Acrobat 8.1.2
Platform level affected:Net Application - Client
Specific operating systems components affected: 32-bit Windows
Net-enabled software: Other
Remediation Summary:Update your copy of the software with the download available from the supplier.
Vendors affected:Adobe
Applications affected:Adobe Reader and Acrobat 8.1.2
Adversity source: Unknown
Attack Vector: Vulnerability exploitation
Virulence: Unknown
Warning Status: Active
Potential Damage: Remote execution/modification
Possible Duration: Unknown
Availability of fix: Available
Type of fix: Patch
Source: Adobe
Reliability of source: Trusted
Source URL: http://www.adobe.com/support/security/bulletins/apsb08-15.html
Abstract: Description of a critical vulnerability that has been identified in Adobe Reader and Acrobat 8.1.2

Security Update available for Adobe Reader and Acrobat 8.1.2
Release date: June 23, 2008

Vulnerability identifier: APSB08-15

CVE number: CVE-2008-2641

Platform: All platforms

Affected software versions:

Adobe Reader 8.0 through 8.1.2
Adobe Reader 7.0.9 and earlier
Adobe Acrobat Professional, 3D and Standard 8.0 through 8.1.2
Adobe Acrobat Professional, 3D and Standard 7.0.9 and earlier
NOTE: Adobe Reader 7.1.0 and Acrobat 7.1.0 are not vulnerable to this issue. Adobe Reader 9 and Acrobat 9, expected to be available by July 2008, are also not vulnerable to this issue.

Summary
A critical vulnerability has been identified in Adobe Reader and Acrobat 8.1.2. This vulnerability would cause the application to crash and could potentially allow an attacker to take control of the affected system.

Adobe recommends users of Acrobat 8 and Adobe Reader install the 8.1.2 Security Update 1 patch.

Solution
Acrobat 8 and Adobe Reader
Adobe recommends Adobe Reader 8 users update to Adobe Reader 8.1.2 Security Update 1, available at the links below:

For Windows: http://www.adobe.com/support/downloads/detail.jsp?ftpID=3967

For Macintosh: http://www.adobe.com/support/downloads/detail.jsp?ftpID=3966

Adobe recommends Acrobat 8 users on Windows update to Acrobat 8.1.2 Security Update 1, available here: http://www.adobe.com/support/downloads/detail.jsp?ftpID=3976

Adobe recommends Acrobat 8 users on Macintosh update to Acrobat 8.1.2 Security Update 1, available here: http://www.adobe.com/support/downloads/detail.jsp?ftpID=3977

Adobe recommends Acrobat 3D Version 8 users on Windows update to Acrobat 3D Version 8.1.2 Security Update 1, available here: http://www.adobe.com/support/downloads/detail.jsp?ftpID=3975

Users with Adobe Reader 7.0 through 7.0.9 should upgrade to Adobe Reader 7.1.0:
http://www.adobe.com/go/getreader.

Acrobat 7
Adobe recommends Acrobat 7 users on Windows update to Acrobat 7.1.0, available here:
http://www.adobe.com/support/downloads/product.jsp?product=1&platform=Windows

Adobe recommends Acrobat 7 users on Macintosh update to Acrobat 7.1.0, available here:
http://www.adobe.com/support/downloads/product.jsp?product=1&platform=Macintosh

Severity rating
Adobe categorizes this as an critical issue and recommends affected users update their installations.

Details
A critical vulnerability has been identified in Adobe Reader and Acrobat 8.1.2 and earlier versions. This vulnerability would cause the application to crash and could potentially allow an attacker to take control of the affected system.

Adobe recommends users of Acrobat and Adobe Reader update their product installations using the instructions above to protect themselves from potential vulnerabilities. Adobe Reader 7.1.0 and Acrobat 7.1.0 are not vulnerable to this issue.

This update resolves an input validation issue in a JavaScript method that could potentially lead to remote code execution. (CVE-2008-2641)

NOTE: there are reports that this issue is being exploited in the wild.

Acknowledgments
Adobe would like to thank the Information Security Team of the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory for reporting the relevant issue and for working with Adobe to help protect our customers' security.

Adobe Disclaimer
License agreement
By using software of Adobe Systems Incorporated or its subsidiaries ("Adobe"); you agree to the following terms and conditions. If you do not agree with such terms and conditions; do not use the software. The terms of an end user license agreement accompanying a particular software file upon installation or download of the software shall supersede the terms presented below.

The export and re-export of Adobe software products are controlled by the United States Export Administration Regulations and such software may not be exported or re-exported to Cuba; Iran; Iraq; Libya; North Korea; Sudan; or Syria or any country to which the United States embargoes goods. In addition; Adobe software may not be distributed to persons on the Table of Denial Orders; the Entity List; or the List of Specially Designated Nationals.

By downloading or using an Adobe software product you are certifying that you are not a national of Cuba; Iran; Iraq; Libya; North Korea; Sudan; or Syria or any country to which the United States embargoes goods and that you are not a person on the Table of Denial Orders; the Entity List; or the List of Specially Designated Nationals.

If the software is designed for use with an application software product (the "Host Application") published by Adobe; Adobe grants you a non-exclusive license to use such software with the Host Application only; provided you possess a valid license from Adobe for the Host Application. Except as set forth below; such software is licensed to you subject to the terms and conditions of the End User License Agreement from Adobe governing your use of the Host Application.

DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTIES: YOU AGREE THAT ADOBE HAS MADE NO EXPRESS WARRANTIES TO YOU REGARDING THE SOFTWARE AND THAT THE SOFTWARE IS BEING PROVIDED TO YOU "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. ADOBE DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES WITH REGARD TO THE SOFTWARE; EXPRESS OR IMPLIED; INCLUDING; WITHOUT LIMITATION; ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE; MERCHANTABILITY; MERCHANTABLE QUALITY OR NONINFRINGEMENT OF THIRD PARTY RIGHTS. Some states or jurisdictions do not allow the exclusion of implied warranties; so the above limitations may not apply to you.

LIMIT OF LIABILITY: IN NO EVENT WILL ADOBE BE LIABLE TO YOU FOR ANY LOSS OF USE; INTERRUPTION OF BUSINESS; OR ANY DIRECT; INDIRECT; SPECIAL; INCIDENTAL; OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OF ANY KIND (INCLUDING LOST PROFITS) REGARDLESS OF THE FORM OF ACTION WHETHER IN CONTRACT; TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE); STRICT PRODUCT LIABILITY OR OTHERWISE; EVEN IF ADOBE HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. Some states or jurisdictions do not allow the exclusion or limitation of incidental or consequential damages; so the above limitation or exclusion may not apply to you.

This advisory contains information released by the original author. Some of the information may have changed since it was released. If the issue affects you, it may be prudent to retrieve the advisory from the site of the original source to ensure that you receive the most current information concerning that problem. Reference to any specific commercial product, process, or service by trade name, trademark manufacturer, or otherwise, does not constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favouring by CPNI.

The views and opinions of authors expressed within this notice shall not be used for advertising or product endorsement purposes. CPNI shall not accept responsibility for any errors or omissions contained within this advisory. In particular, they shall not be liable for any loss or damage whatsoever, arising from or in connection with the usage of information contained within this advisory.

CSIRTUK is a member of the Forum of Incident Response and Security Teams (FIRST) and has contacts with other international Incident Response Teams (IRTs) in order to foster cooperation and coordination in incident prevention, to prompt rapid reaction to incidents, and to promote information sharing amongst its members and the community at large.

Tue, 24 Jun 2008 10:17:00 GMT
Domain affected: Technical
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