Adobe Acrobat Reader 21.001.20135 preventing users to connect to Global Protect

[Sai0101]

We observed Adobe Acrobat Reader 21.001.20135 version is perventing users from connecting to global protect. If the users login in Global protect and the screen freezes and there is a background error message which says 'The Acrobat PDF browser plug -in is missing Please reinstall Adobe Acrobat or Adobe Acrobat Reader to fix this problem. Please reinstall Adobe Acrobat or Adobe Acrobat Reader to fix this problem" After uninstalling the Reader users are able to login to Global Protect. We see IE Addons of Adobe Enabled still we see the issue. Tried disabling the add on but no luck? Any one facing similar issue? Any thoughts on how to fix this issue?

[David5DE7]

Has anyone been able to figure our why this is affecting PA's GlobalProtect only?

Thanks.

[NemesisDBF]

It doesn't affect GlobalProtect only - see this report: https://community.adobe.com/t5/acrobat-reader/bug-version-21-001-20135/td-p/11821802 it likely affects browser operations and SAML auth (performed through browser or browser API). 

I assume Adobe plugin is capturing something it shouldn't.

[NemesisDBF]

This fix might be influencing IE/Browser operations: 

https://www.adobe.com/devnet-docs/acrobatetk/tools/ReleaseNotesDC/continuous/dccontinuousfeb2021.htm...

Browser
4318604: Performance: PDF files taking longer than usual to open via SAP

SAP GUI can call IE to open pdf files

[Premendra5C16]

Our Organiarion is also facing the same issue, user are not able to log into GlobalProtect VPN client. When connecting to VPN users get this Adobe prompt which breaks SAML authentication.

[Eric5F9C]

Same error when trying to load a custom .NET application.  WTF!

Is Adobe going to fix this?

[Eric5F9C]

Thanks to izogfif's post, installing Microsoft Visual C++ 2015-2019 Redistributable (x64) fixed our issue.

[DFitzMyovantSciences]

My company is experiencing the same issue, using Okta for MFA and hanging during the push process. We've only had a couple of instances of the issue reported so far, but have a a few 100 people on this version. Opening the task manager, and ending the Adobe Acrobat.PDF sub process under the GlobalProtect Client process allows the connection to complete. Looking forward to Adobe's response on this issue!

[izogfif]

Download and install Microsoft Visual C++ 2015-2019 Redistributable (x64). You can get it via this link: https://aka.ms/vs/16/release/vc_redist.x64.exe

The issue is most likely due to the fact that 64-bit Adobe Acrobat PDF ActiveX plugin fails to load since vcruntime140_1.dll is missing.

[AaronWaNORD]

Our organization was facing the same issue and we already had C++ 2019 Redistributables included in our company image. I was able to resolve the problem by using an Intune Administrative Template and disabling the Adobe Reader IE Add-on by using its Class ID. This can also be done via GPO for anyone who is not using Intune.

ADMX Template:
\Windows Components\Internet Explorer\Security Features\Add-on Management

Setting is "Enabled"

Adobe Reader Class ID that worked in our environment:
{CA8A9780-280D-11CF-A24D-444553540000}

Entry set to 0 to Disable

Hope this might help others facing the same issue.

[michaels71184085]

it looks like Adobe released an update today to fix the issue thankfully....

21.001.20138 Optional update, Feb 15, 2021

4324403: Error “PDF browser plugin is missing, reinstall the application” shown on opening PDF in browser

4324403: Hang on connecting to Global Protect tool with error “PDF browser plugin is missing, reinstall the application” shown in background

[michaels71184085]

it looks like Adobe released an update today to fix the issue thankfully....

21.001.20138 Optional update, Feb 15, 2021

4324403: Error “PDF browser plugin is missing, reinstall the application” shown on opening PDF in browser

4324403: Hang on connecting to Global Protect tool with error “PDF browser plugin is missing, reinstall the application” shown in background

[karanmalik · Accepted solution]

Hi All,

We have released update today which addresses this issue. Release notes of the update: https://www.adobe.com/devnet-docs/acrobatetk/tools/ReleaseNotesDC/continuous/dccontinuousfeb2021qfe....

Let us know if this fixes this issue for you all.

Thanks,

Karan