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TI-2021-04123 Aliases CVE-2021-21017GHSA-r8q2-5jr4-57f7

Acrobat Reader DC Heap-based Buffer Overflow Vulnerability Could Lead To Arbitrary Code Execution

Priority CRITICAL 97Exploited in the wildCWE-122Published · Updated

Key facts

Attack vector
Network
Privileges required
None
User interaction
Required
Attack complexity
Low
Impact type
Code execution
Confidentiality · integrity · availability
High · High · High
Fix status
No fix listed

Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CNA. Fix status from CNA. Impact type from CWE-122 and the CVSS impact.

Summary

Acrobat Reader DC versions versions 2020.013.20074 (and earlier), 2020.001.30018 (and earlier) and 2017.011.30188 (and earlier) are affected by a heap-based buffer overflow vulnerability. An unauthenticated attacker could leverage this vulnerability to achieve arbitrary code execution in the context of the current user. Exploitation of this issue requires user interaction in that a victim must open a malicious file.

Why it matters now

Exploitation Active In CISA KEV since 2021-11-03CISA due date 2021-11-17
EPSS 0.86326 99th percentileScored 2026-11-07
Fix No fix listed No fixed version in the sources yet

SSVC decision points

CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3

Exploitation
Active
Automatable
No
Technical impact
Total

The decision (Track, Attend, Act) also depends on your mission and well-being impact; see CISA's SSVC guide.

Affected products

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed inStatusSource
AdobeAcrobat Readerup to 2020.013.20074; up to 2020.001.30018; up to 2017.011.30188; up to None—No fix listedCNA
  • Acrobat Reader VendorAdobe Affected up to 2020.013.20074; up to 2020.001.30018; up to 2017.011.30188; up to None Fixed in — No fix listed CNA

CPE configurations NVD · 6

CPEVersionsRoleVendor
cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat:*:*:*:*:classic:*:*:*17.0 – 17.011.30188; 20.0 – 20.001.30018VulnerableAdobe
cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat_dc:*:*:*:*:continuous:*:*:*up to 20.013.20074VulnerableAdobe
cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat_reader:*:*:*:*:classic:*:*:*17.0 – 17.011.30188; 20.0 – 20.001.300183VulnerableAdobe
cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat_reader_dc:*:*:*:*:continuous:*:*:*up to 20.013.20074VulnerableAdobe
cpe:2.3:o:apple:macos:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*not specified by NVDRunning onApple
cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*not specified by NVDRunning onMicrosoft
  • cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat:*:*:*:*:classic:*:*:* Versions 17.0 – 17.011.30188; 20.0 – 20.001.30018 Vulnerable ·Adobe
  • cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat_dc:*:*:*:*:continuous:*:*:* Versions up to 20.013.20074 Vulnerable ·Adobe
  • cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat_reader:*:*:*:*:classic:*:*:* Versions 17.0 – 17.011.30188; 20.0 – 20.001.300183 Vulnerable ·Adobe
  • cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat_reader_dc:*:*:*:*:continuous:*:*:* Versions up to 20.013.20074 Vulnerable ·Adobe
  • cpe:2.3:o:apple:macos:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions not specified by NVD Running on ·Apple
  • cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions not specified by NVD Running on ·Microsoft

Remediation

No fixed version listed by the sources yet.

Timeline

  1. 2021-11-03 Added to CISA KEV
  2. 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2021-21017
  3. 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-r8q2-5jr4-57f7

References

Advisory 2

  • TI-2014-00524 Adobe Reader and Acrobat 10.x before 10.1.11 and 11.x before 11.0.08 on Windows allow… KEVCVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
  • TI-2013-02915 Adobe Reader and Acrobat 9.x before 9.5.5, 10.x before 10.1.7, and 11.x before 11.0.03… KEVCVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
  • TI-2013-02389 Integer overflow in Adobe Reader and Acrobat 9.x before 9.5.5, 10.x before 10.1.7, and… KEVCVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
  • TI-2011-02156 Unspecified vulnerability in the U3D component in Adobe Reader and Acrobat 10.1.1 and… KEVCVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
  • TI-2021-09626 Adobe Acrobat Reader use after free vulnerability could lead to arbitrary code execution KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
  • TI-2014-00475 Use-after-free vulnerability in Adobe Reader and Acrobat 10.x before 10.1.9 and 11.x… KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
See all 1413 →

Sources

This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences