Security bulletin
Security updates available for Adobe Reader and Acrobat
Release date: March 21, 2011
Vulnerability identifier: APSB11-06
CVE number: CVE-2011-0609
Platform: Windows and Macintosh
Summary
A critical vulnerability has been identified in the authplay.dll component that ships with Adobe
Reader and Acrobat X (10.0.1) and earlier 10.x and 9.x versions for Windows and Macintosh operating systems. This vulnerability (CVE-2011-0609), as referenced in Security Advisory APSA11-01, could cause a crash and potentially allow an attacker to take control of the affected system. There are reports that this vulnerability is being exploited in the wild in targeted attacks via a Flash (.swf) file embedded in a Microsoft Excel (.xls) file delivered as an email attachment. At this time, Adobe is not aware of attacks targeting Adobe Reader and Acrobat. Adobe Reader X Protected Mode mitigations would prevent an exploit of this kind from executing.
Adobe recommends users of Adobe Reader X (10.0.1) for Macintosh update to Adobe Reader X (10.0.2). For users of Adobe Reader 9.4.2 for Windows and Macintosh, Adobe has made available the update, Adobe Reader 9.4.3. Adobe recommends users of Adobe Acrobat X (10.0.1) for Windows and Macintosh update to Adobe Acrobat X (10.0.2). Adobe recommends users of Adobe Acrobat 9.4.2 for Windows and Macintosh update to Adobe Acrobat 9.4.3. Because Adobe Reader X Protected Mode would prevent an exploit of this kind from executing, we are planning to address this issue in Adobe Reader X for Windows with the next quarterly security update for Adobe Reader, currently scheduled for June 14, 2011.
(Note: Adobe Reader 9.x for UNIX, Adobe Reader for Android, and Adobe Reader and Acrobat 8.x are not affected by this issue.)
The next quarterly security updates for Adobe Reader and Acrobat are currently scheduled for June 14, 2011. Today's security updates are out-of-cycle updates.
Affected software versions
The Authplay.dll component that ships with Adobe Reader and Acrobat X (10.0.1) and earlier 10.x and 9.x versions for Windows and Macintosh operating systems
NOTE: Adobe Reader 9.x for UNIX, Adobe Reader for Android, and Adobe Reader and Acrobat 8.x are not affected by this issue.
Solution
Adobe recommends users update their software installations by following the instructions below:
Adobe Reader
Users on Windows and Macintosh can utilize the product's update mechanism. The default configuration is set to run automatic update checks on a regular schedule. Update checks can be manually activated by choosing Help > Check for Updates.
Adobe Reader 9.x users on Windows can also find the appropriate update here:
http://www.adobe.com/support/downloads/product.jsp?product=10&platform=Windows.
Adobe Reader users on Macintosh can also find the appropriate update here:
http://www.adobe.com/support/downloads/product.jsp?product=10&platform=Macintosh.
Because Adobe Reader X Protected Mode would prevent an exploit of this kind from executing, we are planning to address this issue in Adobe Reader X for Windows with the next quarterly security update for Adobe Reader, currently scheduled for June 14, 2011
Adobe Acrobat
Users can utilize the product's update mechanism. The default configuration is set to run automatic update checks on a regular schedule. Update checks can be manually activated by choosing Help > Check for Updates.
Acrobat Standard and Pro users on Windows can also find the appropriate update here:
http://www.adobe.com/support/downloads/product.jsp?product=1&platform=Windows.
Acrobat Pro Extended users on Windows can also find the appropriate update here: http://www.adobe.com/support/downloads/product.jsp?product=158&platform=Windows.
Acrobat Pro users on Macintosh can also find the appropriate update here:
http://www.adobe.com/support/downloads/product.jsp?product=1&platform=Macintosh.
Severity rating
Adobe categorizes these as critical updates and recommends that users apply the latest updates for their product installations by following the instructions in the "Solution" section above.
Details
A critical vulnerability has been identified in the authplay.dll component that ships with Adobe
Reader and Acrobat X (10.0.1) and earlier 10.x and 9.x versions for Windows and Macintosh operating systems. This vulnerability (CVE-2011-0609), as referenced in Security Advisory APSA11-01, could cause a crash and potentially allow an attacker to take control of the affected system. There are reports that this vulnerability is being exploited in the wild in targeted attacks via a Flash (.swf) file embedded in a Microsoft Excel (.xls) file delivered as an email attachment. At this time, Adobe is not aware of attacks targeting Adobe Reader and Acrobat. Adobe Reader X Protected Mode mitigations would prevent an exploit of this kind from executing.
Adobe recommends users of Adobe Reader X (10.0.1) for Macintosh update to Adobe Reader X (10.0.2). For users of Adobe Reader 9.4.2 for Windows and Macintosh, Adobe has made available the update, Adobe Reader 9.4.3. Adobe recommends users of Adobe Acrobat X (10.0.1) for Windows and Macintosh update to Adobe Acrobat X (10.0.2). Adobe recommends users of Adobe Acrobat 9.4.2 for Windows and Macintosh update to Adobe Acrobat 9.4.3. Because Adobe Reader X Protected Mode would prevent an exploit of this kind from executing, we are planning to address this issue in Adobe Reader X for Windows with the next quarterly security update for Adobe Reader, currently scheduled for June 14, 2011.
(Note: Adobe Reader 9.x for UNIX, Adobe Reader for Android, and Adobe Reader and Acrobat 8.x are not affected by this issue.)
This update resolves a memory corruption vulnerability that could lead to code execution (CVE-2011-0609).