Acrobatic Tumble: Serious Flaws in Adobe Reader 8.1.2
Adobe cautions in an advisory against a whole series of flaws in Adobe Reader 8.1.2. Most of them also affect Linux.
Adobe provides new packages for 8.1.3 to react quickly to the problem, mainly discovered by iDefense Labs and the Zero Day initiative. You can get the complete security bulletin here.
The advisory affects a number of CVE numbers dealing with vulnerabilities mainly from attack from special code in PDF data, causing a potential system crash and even yielding control of the system. Fortunately no cases have yet been recorded. The CVEs are:
CVE-2008-4812
The CVE-2008-4816 should affect Windows only, but CVE-2008-2992 has been known since July of this year and involves format attacks using the util.printf() JavaScript function.
Few distributions provide Adobe Reader in their repositories because it isn't free software. They usually refer to the Adobe download site that provides RPM, Debian and tar.gz installers. Users should pull in the newest version indicated, although Reader 9 isn't included for Linux.
Comments
comments powered by DisqusSubscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters
Support Our Work
Linux Magazine content is made possible with support from readers like you. Please consider contributing when you’ve found an article to be beneficial.
News
-
USB4 Maintainer Leaves Intel
Michael Jamet, one of the primary maintainers of USB4 and Thunderbolt drivers, has left Intel, leaving a gaping hole for the Linux community to deal with.
-
Budgie 10.9.3 Now Available
The latest version of this elegant and configurable Linux desktop aligns with changes in Gnome 49.
-
KDE Linux Alpha Available for Daring Users
It's official, KDE Linux has arrived, but it's not quite ready for prime time.
-
AMD Initiates Graphics Driver Updates for Linux Kernel 6.18
This new AMD update focuses on power management, display handling, and hardware support for Radeon GPUs.
-
AerynOS Alpha Release Available
With a choice of several desktop environments, AerynOS 2025.08 is almost ready to be your next operating system.
-
AUR Repository Still Under DDoS Attack
Arch User Repository continues to be under a DDoS attack that has been going on for more than two weeks.
-
RingReaper Malware Poses Danger to Linux Systems
A new kind of malware exploits modern Linux kernels for I/O operations.
-
Happy Birthday, Linux
On August 25, Linux officially turns 34.
-
VirtualBox 7.2 Has Arrived
With early support for Linux kernel 6.17 and other new additions, VirtualBox 7.2 is a must-update for users.
-
Linux Mint 22.2 Beta Available for Testing
Some interesting new additions and improvements are coming to Linux Mint. Check out the Linux Mint 22.2 Beta to give it a test run.
http://www.mbttrainersshoes.com
mbt trainers shoes are physiological walking shoes. Masai Barefoot Technology，or MBT for short and their manufacturer boasts great benefits of wearing and using MBT walking shoes properly
Don't bother with Adobe Reader
I can confirm
The long and short of it is, I've removed adobe pdf reader, and use kpdf which seems to be a lighter-weight solution with more functionality anwyay.