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Bugbatter

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Bugbatter

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February 19th, 2009 18:00

Acrobat [Reader] 0-Day On the Loose

New Acrobat 0-day in the wild:  Severe vulnerability in Adobe Acrobat affecting versions 8.x and 9 that is currently on the loose in the wild and being actively exploited. Avoid it by turning off Javascript inside of your Adobe Acrobat products.

Disabling JavaScript is easy. This is how it can be done in Acrobat Reader:

Click: Edit -> Preferences -> JavaScript and uncheck Enable Acrobat JavaScript

We believe Adobe is aware of this issue and actively working to address it. However, we felt it was necessary to release this information to let people know how to mitigate against the attacks as they can be devastating. Right now multiple Antivirus companies detect this threat.

 

More HERE

  • Bugbatter

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    Posted February 20th, 2009 11:00

     

    I don't want this to move to the next page yet.

  • joe53

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    Posted February 20th, 2009 12:00

    Just a reminder that there is an alternative if all you want is a pdf reader: Foxit 3.0:
    http://www.foxitsoftware.com/pdf/rd_intro.php

  • ky331

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    Posted February 21st, 2009 16:00

  • Bugbatter

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    Posted February 21st, 2009 19:00


    Here is a simple batch file by PhishLabs to mitigate the Adobe zero day:
    Direct link: http://migre.me/2wR
    Info Here: http://www.phishlabs.com/blog/

    * Note: It has only been tested on Adobe Acrobat Reader 9.0.0 Standard US on Windows XP SP3.   Use at your own risk.

  • ky331

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    Posted February 22nd, 2009 07:00

    for the sake of clarity/emphasis, I would like to make two points:

    1)  those who have already applied the work-around suggested by BugBatter in her first first post above:

    Edit -> Preferences -> JavaScript and uncheck Enable Acrobat JavaScript

    do NOT have to run the PhishLabs batch file --- you've already done what the batch file is trying to do.

    2)  that the batch file "has only been tested on Adobe Acrobat Reader 9.0.0..." is an understatement:   The batch file adjusts a registry key that is specifically for Adobe 9.   Therefore, it will NOT work if you attempt to use it on any other version of adobe!    in contrast, the "generic" instruction above, to edit preferences, could be attempted in other/older  versions of adobe.

  • Bugbatter

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    Posted February 22nd, 2009 07:00

    ky331, for the sake of clarity/emphasis do you plan posting Updates today?

  • ky331

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    Posted February 22nd, 2009 08:00

    Snowshine,

    to answer your SECOND question, the "work-around" should be reversed only after Adobe releases a new version of Reader, which fixes the coding to avert the problem.

    Adobe expects to make available an update for Adobe Reader 9 and Acrobat 9 by March 11th, 2009.

    Updates for Adobe Reader 8 and Acrobat 8 will follow soon after, with Adobe Reader 7 and Acrobat 7 updates to follow.

    I defer to BB to answer your first question.

  • NemesisDB

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    Posted February 22nd, 2009 08:00

    Anyone care to comment on whether hardware DEP and ASLR prevent or at least mitigate against this type of attack?

  • snowshine

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    Posted February 22nd, 2009 08:00

    Hi BugBatter & ky331,

    I completed my Vista Ultimat 64 bit clean install last night and this morning installed the Adobe Acrobat Reader 9.0.0.

    Just this minute I discovered this thread and immediately went to Acrobat and did the Edit->Preferences->JavaScript and unchecked Enable Acrobat JavaScript.

    I am running Avast virus protection[Free Home Version]

    Would you mind answering the following two questions?

    Would I have been infected by now?

    When should I reverse the above action?

    Snow

  • ky331

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    Posted February 22nd, 2009 09:00

    BB,

    in the older forum, I was given the responsibility of starting the daily update thread.    when DELL switched to the new forum, and it became difficult to make posts (for the first few months), i was not in a position to continue doing so regularly --- at which point you (and others) often did so.   At present, I make no "claims" to that thread, and am more than happy when you (or others) start it.

    In particular, in terms of my more recent behavior, I've only started the daily update thread when I actually had a particular update in mind that i was ready to include.   Unless that's problematic, that's how i would like to continue.