[NT] Adobe Reader Security Provider Unsafe Libary Path Vulnerability

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Adobe Reader Security Provider Unsafe Libary Path Vulnerability
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SUMMARY

<http://www.adobe.com/products/reader/> Adobe Reader is "a program for
viewing Portable Document Format (PDF) documents". Remote exploitation of
an unsafe library path vulnerability in Adobe Systems Inc.'s Adobe Reader
may allow attackers to execute arbitrary code as the current user.

DETAILS

Vulnerable Systems:
* Adobe Reader version 8.1 installed on Windows XP and Windows Vista

Immune Systems:
* Adobe Reader version 8.1.2

This vulnerability is due to Adobe Reader using a path for "Security
Provider" libraries that contains the directory the application was
started in. Security Provider libraries provide encryption and signature
verification routines to applications. If the current directory contains a
file with the same name as a Security Provide library, the file will be
loaded into the application, potentially allowing code execution.

Analysis:
Exploitation allows an attacker to execute arbitrary code as the user that
started the application. To exploit this vulnerability, the attacker must
convince the targeted user to open a PDF from a directory under their
control. This directory may be local or network based on either an SMB or
WebDAV server. If Adobe Reader has already been started, the library will
not be loaded.

Workaround:
Copying the original library from "%WINDIR%\System32" to the same
directory as the AcroRd32.exe binary will make the application find the
correct library before a malicious one is found.

The actual filenames which can be used to exploit this vulnerability
depend on the operating system and version. To determine which filenames
affect your system, consult the following registry key.


HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\SecurityProviders\SecurityProviders

This is only a temporary workaround; future software updates will not
update these copies. As such, the copies should be removed once this
vulnerability has been patched.

Vendor response:
Adobe has released version 8.1.2 of Adobe Reader that addresses this
vulnerability. Although there is currently no update for version 7.0.9,
Adobe reports it does plan to release one at a later date. For more
information, visit the vendor's advisory at the following URL:
<http://www.adobe.com/support/security/advisories/apsa08-01.html>
http://www.adobe.com/support/security/advisories/apsa08-01.html

CVE Information:
<http://www.cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2007-5666>
CVE-2007-5666

Disclosure Timeline:
09/25/2007 - Initial vendor notification
09/25/2007 - Initial vendor response
10/26/2007 - Request for status
10/26/2007 - Status - Est. early January
01/04/2008 - Request for status
01/04/2008 - Status - Scheduled early February
01/28/2008 - Adobe plans patch for 8, but not 7
01/30/2008 - Concerns about the plan e-mailed to Adobe
01/31/2008 - Telephone call to clarify concerns
02/06/2008 - Adobe releases 8.1.2
02/07/2008 - Adobe publishes APSA08-01
02/08/2008 - Public disclosure


ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

The information has been provided by iDefense Labs.
The original article can be found at:
<http://labs.idefense.com/intelligence/vulnerabilities/display.php?id=655>
http://labs.idefense.com/intelligence/vulnerabilities/display.php?id=655



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