Adobe flaw puts PCs at risk

A flaw in several of Adobe Systems’ popular graphics design applications could expose users to hacker attacks, the software maker has warned.A security vulnerability in the Adobe License Management Service, a component used for product activation, “can lead to an unauthorized person gaining access to the user’s computer,” Adobe said in a security advisory posted to its Web site late last week.

The affected products are the Windows versions of Adobe Photoshop CS, Adobe Creative Suite 1.0 and Adobe Premiere Pro 1.5, Adobe said. The San Jose, Calif.-based company said it is not aware of any malicious code that exploits the vulnerability.

Security monitoring company Secunia rates the issue “moderately critical,” which is right in the middle of its five-tier severity rating system.

Adobe has issued a security patch

to fix the problem. Systems running Photoshop CS2 or Adobe Creative Suite CS2 are not exposed to this flaw.