Acrobat Reader DC Improper Installer Access Control Vulnerability Could Lead To Privilege Escalation
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Local
- Privileges required
- Low
- User interaction
- Required
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- Security bypass
- 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-284.
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 an improper access control vulnerability. An unauthenticated attacker could leverage this vulnerability to elevate privileges in the context of the current user.
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3
- Exploitation
- None
- 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
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adobe | Acrobat Reader | up to 2020.013.20074; up to 2020.001.30018; up to 2017.011.30188; up to None | — | No fix listed | CNA |
- 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
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat:*:*:*:*:classic:*:*:* | 17.0 – 17.011.30188; 20.0 – 20.001.30018 | Vulnerable | Adobe |
| cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat_dc:*:*:*:*:continuous:*:*:* | up to 20.013.20074 | Vulnerable | Adobe |
| cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat_reader:*:*:*:*:classic:*:*:* | 17.0 – 17.011.30188; 20.0 – 20.001.300183 | Vulnerable | Adobe |
| cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat_reader_dc:*:*:*:*:continuous:*:*:* | up to 20.013.20074 | Vulnerable | Adobe |
| cpe:2.3:o:apple:macos:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | not specified by NVD | Running on | Apple |
| cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | not specified by NVD | Running on | Microsoft |
- 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
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2021-21045
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-mpj9-vhqf-h7fw
References
More Adobe Acrobat vulnerabilities
- 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-2021-04123 Acrobat Reader DC Heap-based Buffer Overflow Vulnerability Could Lead To Arbitrary Code Execution KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
Sources
- CVE-2021-21045 · CVE Program
- CVE-2021-21045 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-mpj9-vhqf-h7fw · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences