CVE-2011-0604 in Acrobat Reader
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Adobe Reader and Acrobat 10.x before 10.0.1, 9.x before 9.4.2, and 8.x before 8.2.6 on Windows and Mac OS X allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified vectors, a different vulnerability than CVE-2011-0587.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/06/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-0604 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw affecting Adobe Reader and Acrobat software across multiple versions and operating systems. This vulnerability specifically impacts Adobe Reader versions 10.x before 10.0.1, 9.x before 9.4.2, and 8.x before 8.2.6 on both Windows and Mac OS X platforms. The flaw enables remote attackers to execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML code within the context of a user's browser session, potentially compromising the security of documents and user interactions with PDF files.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within Adobe's PDF processing libraries. Attackers can craft malicious PDF documents containing specially formatted content that exploits the parsing routines in Adobe Reader and Acrobat applications. These malicious payloads can be delivered through various vectors including email attachments, web downloads, or compromised document repositories. The vulnerability operates by bypassing standard security controls that should prevent the execution of embedded scripts or HTML content within PDF documents, creating a pathway for malicious code injection.
The operational impact of CVE-2011-0604 extends beyond simple script execution, as it provides attackers with the capability to perform session hijacking, steal sensitive information, redirect users to malicious websites, or execute additional attacks through the compromised PDF viewer environment. This vulnerability particularly affects enterprise environments where users frequently open PDF documents from untrusted sources, making it a prime target for phishing campaigns and targeted attacks. The cross-site scripting nature means that successful exploitation can lead to unauthorized access to user sessions and potential data exfiltration.
Security professionals should note that this vulnerability is categorized under CWE-79 as "Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting')", which aligns with the core principle that web applications must properly sanitize all user inputs before rendering them in web contexts. The attack surface is significant given Adobe Reader's widespread deployment across corporate networks and individual users, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous for organizations that do not maintain up-to-date software patches. Organizations should consider implementing network-based protections such as web application firewalls and content filtering solutions while prioritizing immediate patch deployment to mitigate this risk. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining current software versions and implementing comprehensive security awareness training to prevent users from opening potentially malicious PDF documents from untrusted sources.