External risk intelligence

Adobe Reader and Acrobat Unspecified Vulnerability

CVE advisoryKnown Exploit

CVE-2008-0655

Adobe Reader and Acrobat contain unspecified vulnerabilities that could lead to unauthorized actions. These flaws present a business risk by potentially compromising system integrity and data confidentiality, impacting operations and data.

1Halo Surface Signal

Information Disclosure

Adobe Acrobat

before 8.1.2

External exposure likelihood

Halo Surface Signal score for CVE-2008-0655

Adobe Acrobat and Reader are client-side desktop applications used for viewing and interacting with documents. They are not server-side services, network gateways, or internet-facing infrastructure. The attack surface is limited to the local execution environment, typically requiring a user to open a specific file, making it highly unlikely to be exposed or reachable as a network service.

Horizon Alert

Summary of the vulnerability and why it matters

Adobe Reader and Acrobat contain unspecified vulnerabilities that could allow for unauthorized actions. These flaws present a significant business risk by potentially compromising system integrity and data confidentiality. The impact can extend to operational disruptions and reputational damage if systems are affected.

  • Vulnerable Adobe Reader and Acrobat.
  • Unspecified design flaw.
  • Potential data compromise and system impact.

Attack Path

How an attacker could exploit the issue

This vulnerability could allow an attacker to gain control of a user's system by tricking them into opening a malicious file. The attacker's goal is to exploit a flaw in how Adobe Reader or Acrobat processes certain files, potentially leading to unauthorized access and manipulation of the affected system. This could result in significant business risk due to data compromise or system disruption.

  • External exposure via malicious files.
  • Attacker provides malicious file.
  • Triggering action leads to system control.

Live Threat

Current exploitation, exposure, and threat context

Adobe Reader and Acrobat versions prior to 8.1.2 contained vulnerabilities that could allow attackers to compromise systems. Exploitation could lead to unauthorized access to sensitive data, modification of system files, or disruption of services. The overall business risk is significant, warranting urgent attention to mitigate potential impacts.

  • Likely attacker skill level: Unknown
  • Required access or conditions: User must open a crafted file
  • Business risk or urgency: High, urgent remediation needed

Priority actions

Operational Fix

Recommended remediation, mitigation, and detection steps

Multiple unspecified vulnerabilities in Adobe Reader and Acrobat have been identified with unknown impact and attack vectors. These vulnerabilities pose a risk to the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of data processed by these applications. Organizations should prioritize understanding their exposure and implementing protective measures to mitigate potential business risks.

  • Find affected assets.
  • Reduce exposure or isolate risk.
  • Fix, verify, and monitor.

Frequently asked questions

What are Adobe Reader and Acrobat used for?

Adobe Reader and Acrobat are applications designed for viewing, creating, managing, and manipulating PDF files, ensuring consistent document formatting across different platforms.

What type of weakness does CVE-2008-0655 represent?

CVE-2008-0655 indicates unspecified vulnerabilities in older Adobe Reader and Acrobat versions. The catalog classifies this as CWE-200, which relates to information exposure, meaning sensitive data could be revealed.

How could an attacker exploit this vulnerability?

An attacker might exploit this by providing a user with a specially crafted PDF file. If the user opens this file with a vulnerable version of Adobe Reader or Acrobat, it could trigger the vulnerability.

What is the significance of CVE-2008-0655 according to CISA?

CISA has listed CVE-2008-0655 in its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog, indicating that it has been actively exploited and poses a significant threat. As of June 8, 2022, organizations were required to apply updates per vendor instructions by June 22, 2022.

What steps should be taken to address this vulnerability?

Organizations should identify all affected Adobe Reader and Acrobat assets, reduce exposure by isolating risks, and then apply vendor-provided fixes. Verification of the remediation and ongoing monitoring are also crucial.

References