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On 9/10/2024, Adobe released security updates for several products, including a patch for a suspected zero-day vulnerability in Adobe Reader, identified as CVE-2024-41869. This vulnerability, classified as a Use After Free (UAF) issue, requires a user to open a maliciously crafted file. It can result in arbitrary code execution, system crashes, or the return of unexpected values. EXPMON studied the crash using their exploit analysis tool with a large public PDF sample set. The tool identified the problem as a crafted Proof of Concept with no malicious payload. They reported the issue as a potential zero day.
Affected Software
Acrobat Reader versions 24.002.21005, 24.001.30159, 20.005.30655, 24.003.20054 and earlier are affected by this vulnerability.
Remediation
User Level
- Open Adobe Reader: Launch Adobe Reader on your computer.
- Check for Updates: Go to Help in the menu bar. Select Check for Updates. Follow the prompts to download and install any available updates.
- Automatic Updates: Ensure automatic updates are enabled. Go to Edit > Preferences > Updater. Select Automatically install updates.
- Manual Download: Visit the Adobe Reader download page. Download the latest version and install it manually.
Enterprise Level
- Centralized Management: Use tools like Adobe Admin Console or Microsoft Endpoint Configuration Manager to manage updates across the organization.
- Create Update Policies: Define update policies that specify when and how updates should be applied. Ensure policies are communicated and enforced across all departments.
- Automated Deployment: Set up automated deployment of updates using software distribution tools. Schedule regular update checks and deployments.
- Testing: Test updates in a controlled environment before rolling them out organization-wide. Ensure compatibility with other software and systems.
- Monitoring and Reporting: Monitor update status and compliance. Generate reports to ensure all systems are up-to-date.
Recommendations
Patch and Follow Remediation Guidelines - Whether you are a user or an organization we recommend following the guidelines in the Remediation section to successfully mitigate this vulnerability.
Assess Risk - This particular vulnerability has a unique scenario where a proof-of-concept exploit was discovered through a public sandbox. It is up to your organization to assess the risk associated with this vulnerability and determine priority.
Utilize File Scanning and Email Protection - This vulnerability requires a user to open a malicious file. To prevent this establish protections for your email system which includes file scanning. Scan files and utilize sandbox environments to review suspicious attachments.
Associated Bulletins
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