CVE-2007-0044 in Acrobat Reader Plugin
Summary
by MITRE
Adobe Acrobat Reader Plugin before 8.0.0 for the Firefox, Internet Explorer, and Opera web browsers allows remote attackers to force the browser to make unauthorized requests to other web sites via a URL in the (1) FDF, (2) xml, and (3) xfdf AJAX request parameters, following the # (hash) character, aka "Universal CSRF and session riding."
If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/12/2025
This vulnerability exists in Adobe Acrobat Reader Plugin versions prior to 8.0.0 across multiple web browsers including Firefox, Internet Explorer, and Opera. The flaw stems from improper handling of URL parameters within the plugin's processing of Form Data Format files and XML requests. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious FDF, XML, or XFDF files that contain URLs with hash fragments in the AJAX request parameters. When these malicious files are processed by the vulnerable plugin, the browser executes unauthorized requests to arbitrary web servers specified in the URL following the hash character. This represents a sophisticated cross-site request forgery vulnerability that can be leveraged for session riding attacks, allowing attackers to perform actions on behalf of authenticated users without their knowledge or consent.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability relies on the plugin's failure to properly sanitize or validate URL parameters that contain hash fragments. When the Acrobat Reader plugin processes these file formats, it does not adequately filter the URL components that follow the hash symbol, which typically should be processed client-side and not sent to the server. This oversight enables attackers to inject malicious URLs that can trigger requests to sensitive resources on other domains. The vulnerability specifically affects the plugin's handling of AJAX requests where the hash character is used to delimit additional parameters that should remain within the browser's local context. This flaw demonstrates poor input validation and inadequate security controls in the plugin's request processing pipeline, creating a pathway for unauthorized network operations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it enables attackers to perform unauthorized actions across different domains without user interaction or awareness. Security researchers have classified this as a universal CSRF vulnerability because it can be exploited across multiple browser environments and web applications. The session riding aspect allows attackers to hijack user sessions and potentially access sensitive information or perform privileged operations on behalf of authenticated users. This vulnerability can be particularly dangerous in corporate environments where users may have elevated privileges or access to sensitive systems. The attack can be delivered through various means including malicious PDF documents, web-based attacks, or social engineering campaigns that trick users into opening compromised files. The vulnerability's persistence across multiple browsers makes it especially concerning as it broadens the attack surface and increases the likelihood of successful exploitation.
Organizations should immediately update to Adobe Acrobat Reader Plugin version 8.0.0 or later to remediate this vulnerability. System administrators should implement network monitoring to detect unauthorized cross-domain requests originating from user machines. Browser security policies should be reviewed to limit plugin functionality and restrict cross-origin requests. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-352, which addresses Cross-Site Request Forgery, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1566 for credential access through social engineering. Network segmentation and firewall rules should be configured to prevent unauthorized outbound requests to sensitive domains. Regular security assessments should include testing for similar plugin vulnerabilities and proper input validation controls. Users should be educated about the risks of opening untrusted PDF documents and the importance of keeping software updated. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing web application firewalls and content security policies to mitigate potential exploitation attempts.