The flaw has been found in the web browser plug-in of the Adobe Reader, which normally allows PDF documents to be viewed in a browser window and by taking advantage of the problem hi-tech criminals could use links to PDF files stored on any website to attack vulnerable Windows PCs.
Writing about the flaw Symantec security researcher Hon Lau said: "The ease (with) which this weakness can be exploited is breathtaking."
So far no cyber crooks are thought to be using the Adobe Reader flaw but code to do so has been produced, and whilst it was originally thought that only users of the Firefox browser were at risk, it is known that Internet Explorer users are vulnerable as well.
Upgrading to the new version of the Adobe Reader removes the risk to computer security.
