Vulnerability in Adobe Reader & Acrobat – all windows versions

Update – October 5 –  A new version of Adobe Reader and Acrobat are available. Please do a check for updates. For users on XP machines you will need to be logged in as an administrator. 

Secunia announcement
http://secunia.com/advisories/41340

Secunia Advisory SA41340

Adobe Reader / Acrobat Font Parsing Buffer Overflow Vulnerability

level        Extremely critical
Impact     System access
Where     From remote
Description
A vulnerability has been discovered in Adobe Reader, which can be exploited by malicious people to compromise a user’s system.

The vulnerability is caused due to a boundary error within the font
parsing in CoolType.dll and can be exploited to cause a stack-based
buffer overflow by e.g. tricking a user into opening a specially crafted
PDF file.

The vulnerability is confirmed in versions 8.2.4 and 9.3.4. Other versions may also be affected.

NOTE: The vulnerability is currently being actively exploited.

State provided information

>>> ” ” <> 9/8/2010 7:34 AM >>>
MULTI-STATE INFORMATION SHARING AND ANALYSIS CENTER CYBER SECURITY ADVISORY

MS-ISAC ADVISORY NUMBER:
2010-071 Updated

DATE(S) ISSUED:
8/26/2010
9/7/2010 – Updated

SUBJECT:
Vulnerability in Adobe Reader and Adobe Acrobat Could Allow For Remote Code Execution

OVERVIEW:
A vulnerability has been discovered in the Adobe Acrobat and Adobe Reader applications which could allow attackers to execute arbitrary code on the affected systems. Adobe Reader allows users to view Portable Document Format (PDF) files while Adobe Acrobat offers users additional features such as the ability to create PDF files. This vulnerability may be exploited if a user visits or is redirected to a specially crafted web page or when a user opens a specially crafted PDF file. Successful exploitation will result in an attacker gaining the same privileges as the logged on user. Depending on the privileges associated with the user, an attacker could then install programs; view, change, or delete data; or create new accounts with full user rights. Failed exploit attempts will likely cause denial-of-service conditions.

Exploit code is publicly available. There is currently no patch available for this vulnerability.

September 7 UPDATED OVERVIEW:
Another vulnerability has been identified affecting a different part of the same application program interface, AcroForm.api, identified the original advisory. Proof of concept code has demonstrated that this new vulnerability is subject to memory corruption which could result in remote code execution.

SYSTEMS AFFECTED:

·         Adobe Acrobat 9.3.4 and earlier for Windows

·         Adobe Acrobat Standard 9.3.4 and earlier for Windows

·         Adobe Acrobat Professional 9.3.4 and earlier for Windows

·         Adobe Reader 9.3.4 and earlier for Windows

RISK:

Government:

·         Large and medium government entities: High

·         Small government entities: High

Businesses:

·         Large and medium business entities: High

·         Small business entities: High

Home users: High

DESCRIPTION:
Adobe Reader and Adobe Acrobat are prone to a remote code execution vulnerability when handling malicious PDF files. The vulnerability is a remote memory-corruption that occurs in ‘AcroForm.api’ when processing unspecified ‘special characters’. This vulnerability may be exploited if a user visits or is redirected to a specially crafted web page.  Exploitation may also occur when a user opens a specially crafted PDF file.

Successful exploitation will result in an attacker gaining the same privileges as the logged on user. Depending on the privileges associated with the user, an attacker could then install programs; view, change, or delete data; or create new accounts with full user rights. Failed exploit attempts will likely cause denial-of-service conditions.

Exploit code is publicly available. There is currently no patch available for this vulnerability.

September 7 UPDATED DESCRIPTION:
A new vulnerability has been reported affecting the same AcroForm.api, specifically the Adobe plug-in acroform_PlugInMain.  This plug-in is vulnerable to a memory corruption vulnerability which could result in remote code execution.

RECOMMENDATIONS:
We recommend the following actions be taken:

·         Install the updated software from Adobe as soon as it becomes available after appropriate testing.

·         Run all software as a non-privileged user (one without administrative privileges) to diminish the effects of a successful attack.

·         Remind users not to visit un-trusted websites or follow links provided by unknown or un-trusted sources.

·         Do not open email attachments from unknown or un-trusted sources.

REFERENCES:

ITSecTeam:
http://itsecteam.com/en/papers/paper11.htm
http://itsecteam.com/en/vulnerabilities/vulnerability62.htm

UPDATED REFERENCES:

ITSecTeam:
http://itsecteam.com/en/papers/paper12.htm
http://itsecteam.com/en/vulnerabilities/vulnerability66.htm
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http://www.networkworld.com/news/2010/091410-adobe-sounds-alarm-on-flash.html?hpg1=bn
Update Sept 14

Adobe said it would update Flash to fix that program’s flaw in two weeks, sometime during the week of Sept. 27.

The two bugs in Reader and Acrobat — the one disclosed last week and Monday’s — will be patched in the week of Oct. 4 with
an emergency, or “out-of-band” security update.

Unlike Flash, Reader and Acrobat are supposed to receive updates on the second Tuesday of every third month. Adobe was to
patch Reader and Acrobat on Oct. 12, but has ditched that in lieu of the rush update.