CVE-2008-0655
Adobe Acrobat and Reader Unspecified Vulnerability
Description
CVE-2008-0655 is an unspecified vulnerability in Adobe Acrobat and Reader described as a design flaw that allows a specially crafted PDF file to be printed silently an arbitrary number of times. While the vulnerability was initially characterized as enabling silent printing abuse, the underlying design flaw in Acrobat's JavaScript and plugin architecture also opened pathways for more severe exploitation scenarios. CISA has added CVE-2008-0655 to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog, and with an EPSS score of 68.8% (98th percentile), this vulnerability has a significant probability of active exploitation.
KEV Information
CVSS Score
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:HOpen in CalculatorAffected Products
| Vendor | Product | Version |
|---|---|---|
| adobe | acrobat | < 8.1.2 |
| adobe | acrobat reader | < 8.1.2 |
Multiple CVSS Assessments
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
References
- http://blogs.adobe.com/acroread/2008/02/adobe_reader_812_for_linux_and.html(Broken Link)
- http://kb.adobe.com/selfservice/viewContent.do?externalId=kb403079&sliceId=1(Vendor Advisory)
- http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2008-02/msg00007.html(Broken Link)
- http://secunia.com/advisories/28802(Broken Link, Patch, Vendor Advisory)
- http://secunia.com/advisories/28851(Broken Link, Vendor Advisory)
- http://secunia.com/advisories/28983(Broken Link, Vendor Advisory)
- http://secunia.com/advisories/29065(Broken Link, Vendor Advisory)
- http://secunia.com/advisories/29205(Broken Link, Vendor Advisory)
- http://secunia.com/advisories/30840(Broken Link, Vendor Advisory)
- http://security.gentoo.org/glsa/glsa-200803-01.xml(Third Party Advisory)
- http://securitytracker.com/id?1019346(Broken Link, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry)
- http://sunsolve.sun.com/search/document.do?assetkey=1-26-239286-1(Broken Link)
- http://www.adobe.com/support/security/advisories/apsa08-01.html(Vendor Advisory)
- http://www.adobe.com/support/security/bulletins/apsb08-13.html(Vendor Advisory)
- http://www.redhat.com/support/errata/RHSA-2008-0144.html(Broken Link)
- http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/27641(Broken Link, Exploit, Patch, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry)
- http://www.us-cert.gov/cas/techalerts/TA08-043A.html(Broken Link, Third Party Advisory, US Government Resource)
- http://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2008/0425(Broken Link)
- http://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2008/1966/references(Broken Link, Vendor Advisory)
- https://oval.cisecurity.org/repository/search/definition/oval%3Aorg.mitre.oval%3Adef%3A10299(Broken Link)
- https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2008-0655(US Government Resource)
Weakness Type
CWE-20: Improper Input Validation
CVE-2008-0655 exploits improper input validation in Adobe Acrobat and Reader's handling of PDF features and JavaScript, where the application fails to properly restrict or validate actions that can be triggered by a crafted PDF document. This design flaw allows a malicious PDF to invoke privileged operations such as silent printing without user consent or adequate security prompts.
Learn more: CWE-20 — Improper Input Validation
Impact Analysis
CVE-2008-0655 is remotely exploitable through a crafted PDF document — an attacker needs only to deliver a malicious PDF to the victim. No authentication is required, and user interaction is limited to opening the file. While the described impact of silent printing may appear limited, the underlying design flaw in how Adobe Acrobat processes PDF-embedded actions can be leveraged for broader impact scenarios, including resource exhaustion through unlimited silent printing, information disclosure through printer-based exfiltration channels, and potential abuse of the JavaScript execution context. The EPSS score of 68.8% (98th percentile) indicates a high probability of exploitation. Availability is the primary concern due to resource exhaustion from repeated silent print operations, but confidentiality risks also exist if sensitive documents on the system can be exfiltrated through print-to-network operations.
Exploit Maturity
CISA has confirmed active exploitation of CVE-2008-0655 in the wild by adding it to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on June 8, 2022. The EPSS score of 68.8% places this vulnerability in the 98th percentile, indicating a high probability of exploitation. While the specific exploitation details were not fully disclosed by Adobe, the inclusion in the KEV catalog confirms that attackers have leveraged this design flaw in real-world campaigns. No specific ransomware association has been reported for CVE-2008-0655.
Remediation
- Apply Adobe security updates immediately: Install the latest patches for Adobe Acrobat and Reader as directed by the CISA KEV required action to address the design flaw vulnerability.
- Upgrade to a current version of Adobe Acrobat Reader DC: Ensure all systems run a supported version with enhanced security controls over PDF-triggered actions and JavaScript execution.
- Disable JavaScript in Adobe Reader: Configure Adobe Reader preferences to disable JavaScript execution, which eliminates the scripting-based attack vector used by this vulnerability.
- Restrict silent printing capabilities: Configure Adobe Reader's Trust Manager and security settings to require user confirmation for all print operations initiated by PDF documents.
- Deploy PDF content filtering at email and web gateways: Implement scanning for known exploit signatures and suspicious JavaScript content within PDF files at all network ingress points.
Technical Details
CVE-2008-0655 is a design flaw in Adobe Acrobat and Reader that allows a specially crafted PDF file to execute privileged actions without adequate user authorization. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-20 (Improper Input Validation) because the application fails to properly validate and restrict the actions that embedded PDF content can trigger. The specific attack scenario involves crafting a PDF that invokes the silent printing functionality to print documents an arbitrary number of times without user interaction or consent. This design flaw exists in how Adobe Acrobat processes embedded JavaScript and plugin commands within PDF documents, where the security boundary between document content and system-level operations is insufficiently enforced. While the primary described impact is silent printing abuse, the underlying architectural weakness in permission checking for PDF-triggered operations could potentially be extended to other privileged actions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is CVE-2008-0655 being actively exploited?
Yes. CISA has confirmed active exploitation by adding CVE-2008-0655 to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog. The EPSS score of 68.8% in the 98th percentile indicates a high probability of ongoing exploitation through crafted PDF documents.
What products are affected by CVE-2008-0655?
CVE-2008-0655 affects Adobe Acrobat and Adobe Reader. Multiple versions of both products are vulnerable. Users should update to the latest supported version of Adobe Acrobat Reader DC.
How do I fix CVE-2008-0655?
Update Adobe Acrobat and Reader to the latest patched version. Disable JavaScript in Adobe Reader preferences and configure security settings to require user confirmation for print operations triggered by PDF documents.
How severe is CVE-2008-0655?
CVE-2008-0655 has an EPSS score in the 98th percentile. While the primary described impact is silent printing abuse, the underlying design flaw in permission checking for PDF-triggered actions represents a broader security concern. The vulnerability enables resource exhaustion and potential information disclosure through printer-based channels.
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