The focus this week has fallen on Adobe Reader and Adobe Acrobat because news broke out that the two applications are plagued by a critical security vulnerability that’s being actively exploited in the wild. Adobe Reader 9.3.4 and earlier versions for Windows, Mac and UNIX, as well as Adobe Acrobat 9.3.4 and earlier versions for Windows and Mac are plagued by a critical vulnerability that, if exploited by a person with malicious intent, could allow said person to crash the targeted system and even take control of the targeted system.

Adobe posted a security advisory online in which it proposes a mitigation for Windows users and in which it says that a fix will be released on the week of October 4, 2010.

The spotlight now falls on Adobe Flash Player 10.1 because, well, it is also plagued by a critical vulnerability (check out the security advisory Adobe posted in regards to this vulnerability here). Adobe Flash Player 10.1.82.76 and earlier versions for Windows, Macintosh, Linux, Solaris and Flash Player 10.1.92.10 for Android are plagued by a critical vulnerability that, if exploited by a person with malicious intent, could crash the targeted system and potentially allow the attacker to take control of the affected system. Déjà vu anyone?

Here comes the best part: this vulnerability is also exploited in the wild. The vulnerability also affects Adobe Reader 9.3.4 for Windows, Macintosh and UNIX, and Adobe Acrobat 9.3.4 and earlier versions for Windows and Macintosh.

Here comes the good news: Adobe plans to release a fix for the Flash vulnerability during the week of September 27, 2010. A fix for the same vulnerability will be released for Adobe Reader and Acrobat during the week of October 4, at the same time when Adobe will fix the Adobe Reader/Acrobat vulnerability that has been making the headlines this week.

UPDATE:Adobe now plans to make available updates for Adobe Flash Player for Windows, Macintosh, UNIX, Solaris and Android on Monday, Sept. 20, 2010.