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Adobe Reader 6.0 .ETD File Format String Vulnerability iDEFENSE Security Advisory 12.13.04 www.idefense.com/application/poi/display?id=163&type=vulnerabilitie s December 14, 2004 I. BACKGROUND Adobe Acrobat Reader is a program for viewing Portable Document Format (PDF) documents. More information is available at the following site: http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readermain.html II. DESCRIPTION Remote exploitation of a format string vulnerability in version 6.0.2 of Adobe's Reader could allow attackers to execute arbitrary code. The problem specifically exists in the parsing of .etd files used in eBook transactions. A .etd file containing a format string in the 'title' or 'baseurl' fields can cause an invalid memory access:|%p|%p|%p|%p|%p|%p|%p|%p|%p|%p|%p|%p|%p|%p|%p|%p| |%p|%p|%p|%p|%p|%p|%p|%p|%p|%p|%p|%p|%p|%p|%p|%p| This may allow for the execution of arbitrary code. III. ANALYSIS Successful exploitation allows an attacker to execute arbitrary code under the privileges of the local user. Remote exploitation is possible by sending a specially crafted e-mail and attaching either the maliciously crafted PDF document or a link to it. IV. DETECTION iDEFENSE has confirmed that Adobe Reader version 6.0.2 is vulnerable. It is suspected that earlier versions of Adobe Reader 6 are also vulnerable. Adobe Acrobat may also be vulnerable. V. WORKAROUND Deleting the following file will prevent exploitation of this vulnerability: "C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 6.0\Reader\plug_ins\eBook.api" This will not impact reading .PDF files. Removing this file prevents Adobe Reader from handling eBooks. When a file handled by this plugin is detected, an error dialog box will appear, offering to take the user to Adobe's website for information. VI. VENDOR RESPONSE This vulnerability is addressed in Adobe Acrobat Reader 6.0.3. Downloads for platform specific versions are available at the links shown below: Reader/Win: http://www.adobe.com/support/downloads/detail.jsp?ftpID=2679 Reader/Mac: http://www.adobe.com/support/downloads/detail.jsp?ftpID=2680 Acrobat/Win: http://www.adobe.com/support/downloads/detail.jsp?ftpID=2677 Acrobat/Mac: http://www.adobe.com/support/downloads/detail.jsp?ftpID=2676 VII. CVE INFORMATION The Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE) project has assigned the names CAN-2004-1153 to these issues. This is a candidate for inclusion in the CVE list (http://cve.mitre.org), which standardizes names for security problems. VIII. DISCLOSURE TIMELINE 10/13/2004 Initial vendor notification 10/14/2004 Initial vendor response 12/14/2004 Coordinated public disclosure IX. CREDIT This vulnerability was discovered by Greg MacManus, iDEFENSE Labs. Get paid for vulnerability research http://www.idefense.com/poi/teams/vcp.jsp X. LEGAL NOTICES Copyright (c) 2004 iDEFENSE, Inc. Permission is granted for the redistribution of this alert electronically. It may not be edited in any way without the express written consent of iDEFENSE. If you wish to reprint the whole or any part of this alert in any other medium other than electronically, please email customerservice@idefense.com for permission. Disclaimer: The information in the advisory is believed to be accurate at the time of publishing based on currently available information. Use of the information constitutes acceptance for use in an AS IS condition. There are no warranties with regard to this information. Neither the author nor the publisher accepts any liability for any direct, indirect, or consequential loss or damage arising from use of, or reliance on, this information.