__________________________________________________________ The U.S. Department of Energy Computer Incident Advisory Capability ___ __ __ _ ___ / | /_\ / \___ __|__ / \ \___ __________________________________________________________ INFORMATION BULLETIN Adobe Reader and Acrobat Malicious PDF Document [Adobe Document 331709] June 28, 2005 16:00 GMT Number P-236 ______________________________________________________________________________ PROBLEM: A vulnerability within Adobe Reader and Adobe Acrobat makes it possible to launch arbitrary executables. PLATFORM: Mac OS (Adobe Reader 7.0 and 7.0.1, Adobe Acrobat 7.0 and 7.0.1) DAMAGE: If malicious JavaScript is embedded in PDF files, it is possible to launch arbitrary executables on a local machine. However the impact is minimized due to the fact that the applications can be executed only if the complete application names and paths are known in advance by the attacker. SOLUTION: Install the security patches. ______________________________________________________________________________ VULNERABILITY The risk is MEDIUM. If exploited it may be possible to launch ASSESSMENT: executables on an end-user system without the end user's knowledge. ______________________________________________________________________________ LINKS: CIAC BULLETIN: http://www.ciac.org/ciac/bulletins/p-236.shtml ORIGINAL BULLETIN: http://www.adobe.com/support/techdocs/331709.html CVE/CAN: http://www.cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name= CAN-2005-1623 ______________________________________________________________________________ [***** Start Adobe Document 331709 *****] Arbitrary application execution from a malicious PDF document (Mac OS) Advisory Name: Arbitrary application execution from a malicious PDF document Release Date: June 27th, 2005 Product: Adobe Reader 7.0 and 7.0.1, Adobe Acrobat 7.0 and 7.0.1 Platform: Mac OS Vulnerability Identifier: CAN-2005-1623 Overview: A vulnerability within Adobe Reader and Adobe Acrobat has been identified. Under certain circumstances, it is possible to launch arbitrary executables. Adobe has solutions available that can rectify these issues. Please refer to the Recommendations section for further information. Effect: If exploited it may be possible to launch executables on an end-user system without the end user's knowledge. Details: The vulnerability is within Adobe Reader and Adobe Acrobat. If malicious JavaScript is embedded in PDF files, it is possible to launch arbitrary executables on a local machine. However the impact is minimized due to the fact that the applications can be executed only if the complete application names and paths are known in advance by the attacker. Recommendations: Download one of the following updates: -- If you use Adobe Reader 7.x, download the update to Adobe Reader 7.0.2 from the Adobe website at www.adobe.com/support/downloads/ . -- If you use Adobe Acrobat 7.x, download the update to Adobe Acrobat 7.0.2 from the Adobe website at www.adobe.com/support/downloads/ . Caveats: None Vulnerability Identifier Cross-Reference: CVE ID: CAN-2005-1623 Acknowledgment: Adobe would like to thank Aandi Inston, for reporting the issue. 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. [***** End Adobe Document 331709 *****] _______________________________________________________________________________ CIAC wishes to acknowledge the contributions of Adobe for the information contained in this bulletin. _______________________________________________________________________________ CIAC, the Computer Incident Advisory Capability, is the computer security incident response team for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the emergency backup response team for the National Institutes of Health (NIH). CIAC is located at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in Livermore, California. CIAC is also a founding member of FIRST, the Forum of Incident Response and Security Teams, a global organization established to foster cooperation and coordination among computer security teams worldwide. CIAC services are available to DOE, DOE contractors, and the NIH. CIAC can be contacted at: Voice: +1 925-422-8193 (7x24) FAX: +1 925-423-8002 STU-III: +1 925-423-2604 E-mail: ciac@ciac.org Previous CIAC notices, anti-virus software, and other information are available from the CIAC Computer Security Archive. World Wide Web: http://www.ciac.org/ Anonymous FTP: ftp.ciac.org PLEASE NOTE: Many users outside of the DOE, ESnet, and NIH computing communities receive CIAC bulletins. If you are not part of these communities, please contact your agency's response team to report incidents. Your agency's team will coordinate with CIAC. The Forum of Incident Response and Security Teams (FIRST) is a world-wide organization. A list of FIRST member organizations and their constituencies can be obtained via WWW at http://www.first.org/. This document was prepared as an account of work sponsored by an agency of the United States Government. Neither the United States Government nor the University of California nor any of their employees, makes any warranty, express or implied, or assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product, or process disclosed, or represents that its use would not infringe privately owned rights. Reference herein to any specific commercial products, process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise, does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation or favoring by the United States Government or the University of California. The views and opinions of authors expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of the United States Government or the University of California, and shall not be used for advertising or product endorsement purposes. 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