Adobe Acrobat Reader use after free vulnerability could lead to arbitrary code execution
Priority CRITICAL 97Exploited in the wildCWE-416Published · 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 · NVD. Fix status from CNA. Impact type from CWE-416 and the CVSS impact.
Summary
Acrobat Reader DC versions versions 2021.001.20150 (and earlier), 2020.001.30020 (and earlier) and 2017.011.30194 (and earlier) are affected by a Use After Free 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 0.52132 98th 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
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adobe | Acrobat Reader | up to 2020.001.30020; up to 2021.001.20150; up to 2017.011.30194; up to None | — | No fix listed | CNA |
- Acrobat Reader VendorAdobe Affected up to 2020.001.30020; up to 2021.001.20150; up to 2017.011.30194; up to None Fixed in — No fix listed CNA
CPE configurations NVD · 8
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat_dc:*:*:*:*:continuous:*:*:* | 15.008.20082 – 21.001.20150 | Vulnerable | Adobe |
| cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat_reader_dc:*:*:*:*:continuous:*:*:* | 15.008.20082 – 21.001.20150 | Vulnerable | Adobe |
| cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | not specified by NVD | Running on | Microsoft |
| cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat:*:*:*:*:classic:*:*:* | 17.011.30059 – 17.011.30194; 20.001.30005 – 20.001.30020 | Vulnerable | Adobe |
| cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat_reader:*:*:*:*:classic:*:*:* | 17.011.30059 – 17.011.30194; 20.001.30005 – 20.001.30020 | Vulnerable | Adobe |
| cpe:2.3:o:apple:macos:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | not specified by NVD | Running on | Apple |
| cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat_dc:*:*:*:*:continuous:*:*:* | 15.008.20082 – 21.001.20149 | Vulnerable | Adobe |
| cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat_reader_dc:*:*:*:*:continuous:*:*:* | 15.008.20082 – 21.001.20149 | Vulnerable | Adobe |
- cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat_dc:*:*:*:*:continuous:*:*:* Versions 15.008.20082 – 21.001.20150 Vulnerable ·Adobe
- cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat_reader_dc:*:*:*:*:continuous:*:*:* Versions 15.008.20082 – 21.001.20150 Vulnerable ·Adobe
- cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions not specified by NVD Running on ·Microsoft
- cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat:*:*:*:*:classic:*:*:* Versions 17.011.30059 – 17.011.30194; 20.001.30005 – 20.001.30020 Vulnerable ·Adobe
- cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat_reader:*:*:*:*:classic:*:*:* Versions 17.011.30059 – 17.011.30194; 20.001.30005 – 20.001.30020 Vulnerable ·Adobe
- cpe:2.3:o:apple:macos:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions not specified by NVD Running on ·Apple
- cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat_dc:*:*:*:*:continuous:*:*:* Versions 15.008.20082 – 21.001.20149 Vulnerable ·Adobe
- cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat_reader_dc:*:*:*:*:continuous:*:*:* Versions 15.008.20082 – 21.001.20149 Vulnerable ·Adobe
Remediation
No fixed version listed by the sources yet.
Timeline
- 2021-11-03 Added to CISA KEV
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2021-28550
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-865h-4rjv-52pg
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-2021-04123 Acrobat Reader DC Heap-based Buffer Overflow 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
Sources
- CVE-2021-28550 · CVE Program
- CVE-2021-28550 · NVD
- CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-865h-4rjv-52pg · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
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