Adobe Reader and Acrobat Security Updates and Architectural Improvements

Systems Affected

Adobe Reader X (10.1.2) and earlier 10.x versions for Windows and Macintosh
Adobe Reader 9.5 and earlier 9.x versions for Windows, Macintosh, and UNIX
Adobe Acrobat X (10.1.2) and earlier 10.x versions for Windows and Macintosh
Adobe Acrobat 9.5 and earlier 9.x versions for Windows and Macintosh

Overview

Adobe has released Security Bulletin APSB12-08, which describes multiple vulnerabilities affecting Adobe Reader and Acrobat. As part of this update, Adobe Reader and Acrobat 9.x will use the system-wide Flash Player browser plug-in instead of the Authplay component. In addition, Reader and Acrobat now disable the rendering of 3D content by default.

Adobe Security Bulletin APSB12-08 describes a number of vulnerabilities affecting Adobe Reader and Acrobat. These vulnerabilities affect Adobe Reader and Acrobat versions 9.x through 9.5, and Reader X and Acrobat X versions prior to 10.1.3.

The Adobe ASSET blog provides additional details on new security architecture changes to Adobe Reader and Acrobat. Adobe Reader and Acrobat 9.5.1 will use the Adobe Flash Player plug-in version installed on the user’s system rather than the Authplay component that ships with Adobe Reader and Acrobat. This change helps limit the number of out-of-date, vulnerable Flash runtimes available to an attacker. Adobe Reader and Acrobat 9.5.1 also now disable rendering of 3D content by default because the 3D rendering components have a history of vulnerabilities.

US-CERT recommends that Flash users upgrade to the latest version of Adobe Flash Player and turn on automatic updates.

An attacker could exploit these vulnerabilities by convincing a user to open a specially crafted PDF file. This can happen automatically as the result of viewing a webpage.

Impact

These vulnerabilities could allow a remote attacker to execute arbitrary code, write arbitrary files or folders to the file system, escalate local privileges, or cause a denial of service on an affected system as the result of a user opening a malicious PDF file.

Solution

Update Reader

Adobe has released updates to address this issue. Users are encouraged to read Adobe Security Bulletin APSB12-08 and update vulnerable versions of Adobe Reader and Acrobat.

In addition to updating, please consider the following mitigations.

Disable JavaScript in Adobe Reader and Acrobat

Disabling JavaScript may prevent some exploits from resulting in code execution. You can disable Acrobat JavaScript using the Preferences menu (Edit -> Preferences -> JavaScript; uncheck Enable Acrobat JavaScript).

Adobe provides a framework to blacklist specific JavaScipt APIs. If JavaScript must be enabled, this framework may be useful when specific APIs are known to be vulnerable or used in attacks.

Prevent Internet Explorer from automatically opening PDF files

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 files in the web browser

Preventing PDF files from opening inside a web browser will partially mitigate this vulnerability. Applying this workaround may also mitigate future vulnerabilities.

To prevent PDF files 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. Uncheck the "Display PDF in browser" checkbox.

Do not access PDF files from untrusted sources

Do not open unfamiliar or unexpected PDF files, particularly those hosted on websites or delivered as email attachments. Please see Cyber Security Tip ST04-010.