A scripting error in Adobe’s website gave outsiders broad access to internal files on the company’s webserver that could prove valuable to malicious hackers trying to penetrate its security.

The error, which appeared to reside in a faulty CGI script, allowed people outside Adobe to read and download files entering specially crafted URLs into their favorite browser. An Adobe spokesman said company engineers have plugged the leak, but couldn’t say when or how long the error had exposed site internals.
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The flaw, known as a directory traversal, has serious implications for the security of Adobe’s site because it effectively gave web surfers the same permissions to read files afforded Adobe’s web application. Online discussions, including this one from Reddit contained numerous posts claiming the private key Adobe uses to authenticate itself during Secure Socket Layer sessions was exposed. The interception of the key could make it easier for malicious hackers to spoof trusted portions of Adobe’s site.