After completing the form, the system will prompt you to select a meeting time.
On our first call, we will determine whether and how we can help. From there, we discuss your current state under the protection of a non-disclosure agreement and craft a tailored plan to move you and your company forward. Last, we carry out that plan together in a way that saves you time, money, and stress.
Matthew Fagan, Vulnerability Management Patch Analyst
By
Access Point Consulting
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.
Minimize imageEdit imageDelete imageFigure 1 EXPMON detection of CVE-2024-41869 exploit
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.
CyberWatch, by Access Point Consulting, is your weekly source for emerging cybersecurity news, regulatory updates, and threat intelligence. Backed by experts in security consulting, regulatory compliance, and security operations, Access Point enables you to manage cyber risks, respond to incidents, and drive innovation in your company. Read here or on our website; listen on Spotify or Apple Podcasts; or watch on YouTube.website; listen on Spotify or Apple Podcasts; or watch on YouTube.
.
As Cybersecurity Awareness Month winds down, we're pleased to share one last feature from Pierre Reed, the Chief of Staff at Access Point Consulting. He explores the importance of fostering a security awareness culture within organizations. Discover how building this culture can empower your team to better protect against cyber threats.
Ethical hacking has become an essential response to an IT industry kept on its toes by a spectrum of bad actors with malicious intent. This article introduces two prominent methodologies that help the good guys fight back: penetration testing (pen-testing) and red teaming. Learn more here.
Host Geoff Hancock was joined by guests Mike Rush, Director of Threat Intelligence at Access Point Consulting; and Evie Manning, Senior Director of Threat Hunting and Intelligence at Access Point Consulting. Together, they talked about cyber threat intelligence and the applications that can make it work for small and medium-sized businesses.
CyberWatch, by Access Point Consulting, is your weekly source for emerging cybersecurity news, regulatory updates, and threat intelligence. Backed by experts in security consulting, regulatory compliance, and security operations, Access Point enables you to manage cyber risks, respond to incidents, and drive innovation in your company. Read here or on our website; listen on Spotify or Apple Podcasts; or watch on YouTube.website; listen on Spotify or Apple Podcasts; or watch on YouTube.
.
In the age of smart cars and connected devices, convenience often comes with hidden risks. A recently discovered critical vulnerability in Kia vehicles serves as a stark reminder of how our increasingly digital world is making cars new targets for cyberattacks. This vulnerability allowed hackers to remotely control various vehicle functions—using nothing more than a car's license plate number. It highlights the growing threat of cyberattacks on connected cars and the importance of cybersecurity in the automotive industry.
CVE-2024-28995
SolarWinds has issued a critical update for a zero-day vulnerability in its Serv-U MFT Server, allowing attackers to bypass security and access restricted files without authentication. Actively exploited, this flaw poses a significant risk for businesses that delay applying the fix.
.webp)
.png)
