Just to make you aware!!!!

[Dragyn]

Researchers: Adobe's PDF software flawed
By JORDAN ROBERTSON

Computer security researchers said Wednesday they have discovered a vulnerability in Adobe Systems Inc.'s ubiquitous Acrobat Reader software that allows cyber-intruders to attack personal computers through trusted Web links.

Virtually any Web site hosting Portable Document Format, or PDF, files are vulnerable to attack, according to researchers from Symantec Corp. and VeriSign Inc.'s iDefense Intelligence.

The attacks could range from stealing cookies that track a user's Web browsing history to the creation of harmful worms, the researchers said.

The flaw, first revealed at a hacker conference in Germany over the holidays, exists in a plug-in that enables Acrobat users to view PDF files within Web browsers.

By manipulating the Web links to those documents, hackers and online thieves are able to commandeer the Acrobat software and run malicious code when users attempt to open the files, according to Ken Dunham, director of the rapid response team at VeriSign's iDefense Intelligence.

Dunham gave this hypothetical scenario: an attacker finds a PDF file on a banking Web site. The attacker creates a hostile Web site that links to the bank's PDF file. Included is malicious JavaScript code that will run on the unsuspecting user's computer once the link is clicked.

"PDF is trusted and tried and true -- everyone uses it," Dunham said. "But instead of just viewing the file, you've initiated script that shouldn't be executed. All you have to do is click on the PDF and the ball starts rolling."

Representatives from Adobe did not return a call from The Associated Press on Wednesday night.

The flaw appears to target Microsoft Corp.'s Internet Explorer 6.0 Web browser and earlier versions, and Mozilla's Firefox browser, the researchers said.

They recommended that users protect themselves by upgrading Internet Explorer or changing Firefox's user options so the browser does not use the Acrobat plug-in.

Researchers said it's unclear how pervasive or harmful any future attacks might be.

"Given that it is easy to exploit, I would expect that we will see this method used considerably in the coming days and weeks, until it is resolved," a Symantec researcher said in a posting on a company Web log.

They will probably have a fix out shortly.

Mike

[Demi_morgana]

scary!
thanx for the warning Mike

[Skrit]

Thx for the heads up!

[LadyEyes]

Ok, professional hat going on...

Yes, it is good to be aware of these types of things. However, the chances of this type of thing happening with any sort of widespread occurrence is extremely small. The more attention it gets in the media and so on, the more likely hackers will work to use the exploit.

Adobe already issued a security bulletin on December 5th that tells you exactly which versions and using which browsers are effected, and tells you how to avoid the problem. (Basically you need to upgrade your version of Reader to ver. 8.)

The security bulletin is here.


Dragyn, I know you mean well, but you can cause a panic if things are not prefaced, explained, or put into some context sometimes.

[Dragyn]

Duely noted.

[mahon]

still thanks for the info. gotta upgrade my Reader...