Bug in Adobe Creative Cloud updater erases root level Mac data

Adobe has pulled its most recent Creative Cloud update after the version was found to contain an errant script that automatically deletes locally stored Mac user data without warning.

The issue, which presents itself when a user logs into Creative Cloud after installing the flawed 3.5.0.206 update, deletes the contents of the first folder to show up alphabetically in a user's root directory, reports Ars Technica.

According to the publication, customers of data backup service Backblaze were inordinately impacted by the bug, as the company's hidden ".bzvol" root folder is alphabetically first for many Mac users. In the process of troubleshooting user errors, Backblaze confirmed the flaw by creating a hidden folder named ".a," installing Adobe's updater and opening Creative Cloud, a sequence that deleted the root file's contents.

Perhaps more troubling is that many Mac users will find the ".DocumentRevisions-V100" folder at the top their root drive. The file includes data critical to autosave and version history functionality, the deletion of which could result in various system errors.

"We are aware that some customers have experienced this issue and we are investigating in order to resolve the matter as quickly as possible," Adobe said in a statement. "We are stopping the distribution of the update until the issue has been resolved."

In the meantime, Creative Cloud users are advised not to install the version 3.5.0.206 update or, for those who have already done so, not to log in. For users who need immediate access to Creative Cloud, Backblaze suggests creating a sacrificial folder and assigning it a name assured to be first alphabetically.

Adobe has not offered an estimated timeline as to when the update will be fixed and subsequently re-released.

42 Comments

sflocal 6135 comments · 16 Years

About 8 years ago

I really hope this doesn't become the spawn-of-Flash.

Adobe just keeps shooting itself in the foot with security issues.

design_editor 14 comments · 13 Years

This is the dawning of the age of idiocracy, the age of idocracy. The spawn of the babyboomers are in positions of responsibility, and guess who didn't get any life lessons in personal responsibility. It'll only take another generation for them to starting putting Brawndo on our crops, sowing the seeds of humanity's demise.

thewhitefalcon 4444 comments · 10 Years

design_editor said:

This is the dawning of the age of idiocracy, the age of idocracy. The spawn of the babyboomers are in positions of responsibility, and guess who didn't get any life lessons in personal responsibility. It'll only take another generation for them to starting putting Brawndo on our crops, sowing the seeds of humanity's demise.

Eh?

macky the macky 4801 comments · 15 Years

design_editor said:

This is the dawning of the age of idiocracy, the age of idocracy. The spawn of the babyboomers are in positions of responsibility, and guess who didn't get any life lessons in personal responsibility. It'll only take another generation for them to starting putting Brawndo on our crops, sowing the seeds of humanity's demise.

No need to panic! One of the spawn, Frito, is a direct descendent of Steve Ballmer and will employ thousands to labor at doing nothing but writing bad code while singing "Windows While You Work." Upgrayedd's unexpected arrival will put 51% of the population on their backs, servicing the 49% that could have voted for You-know-who but didn't.

MacPro 19838 comments · 18 Years

Thank you Little Snitch. I have Adobe CC apps but keep every one of them plus the multiple Adobe hidden apps that CC installs 100% under manual permissions all of the time. OK I have to click several times every time I launch PS or Muse but I also sleep at night. I don't trust Adobe as far as I could throw Shantanu Narayen.