Adobe Reader DC Windows Installer Uncontrolled Search Path element could lead to Arbitrary Code Execution
Priority LOW 36CWE-427Published · Updated
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Local
- Privileges required
- Low
- 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-427.
Summary
Acrobat Reader DC versions 2021.005.20060 (and earlier), 2020.004.30006 (and earlier) and 2017.011.30199 (and earlier) are affected by an Uncontrolled Search Path Element vulnerability. A local attacker with non-administrative privileges can plant a malicious DLL to achieve arbitrary code execution in the context of the current user via DLL hijacking. Exploitation of this issue requires user interaction.
Why it matters now
EPSS 0.01773 78th percentileScored 2026-11-07
Fix No fix listed No fixed version in the sources yet
SSVC decision points
Not available: CISA has not published SSVC decision points for this record.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adobe | Acrobat Reader | up to 2020.004.30006; up to 2017.011.30199; up to 2021.005.20060; up to None | — | No fix listed | CNA |
- Acrobat Reader VendorAdobe Affected up to 2020.004.30006; up to 2017.011.30199; up to 2021.005.20060; up to None Fixed in — No fix listed CNA
CPE configurations NVD · 9
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat_dc:*:*:*:*:continuous:*:*:* | 20.006.20034 – 21.005.20060 | Vulnerable | Adobe |
| cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | not specified by NVD | Running on | Microsoft |
| cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat_dc:*:*:*:*:continuous:*:*:* | 20.006.20034 – 21.005.20058 | Vulnerable | Adobe |
| cpe:2.3:o:apple:macos:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | not specified by NVD | Running on | Apple |
| cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat_reader_dc:*:*:*:*:continuous:*:*:* | 20.006.20034 – 21.005.20060 | Vulnerable | Adobe |
| cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat_dc:*:*:*:*:classic:*:*:* | 20.004.30005 – 20.004.30006 | Vulnerable | Adobe |
| cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat_reader_dc:*:*:*:*:classic:*:*:* | 20.004.30005 – 20.004.30006 | Vulnerable | Adobe |
| cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat_dc:*:*:*:*:classic:*:*:* | 17.011.30158 – 17.011.30199 | Vulnerable | Adobe |
| cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat_reader_dc:*:*:*:*:classic:*:*:* | 17.011.30158 – 17.011.30199 | Vulnerable | Adobe |
- cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat_dc:*:*:*:*:continuous:*:*:* Versions 20.006.20034 – 21.005.20060 Vulnerable ·Adobe
- cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions not specified by NVD Running on ·Microsoft
- cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat_dc:*:*:*:*:continuous:*:*:* Versions 20.006.20034 – 21.005.20058 Vulnerable ·Adobe
- cpe:2.3:o:apple:macos:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions not specified by NVD Running on ·Apple
- cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat_reader_dc:*:*:*:*:continuous:*:*:* Versions 20.006.20034 – 21.005.20060 Vulnerable ·Adobe
- cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat_dc:*:*:*:*:classic:*:*:* Versions 20.004.30005 – 20.004.30006 Vulnerable ·Adobe
- cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat_reader_dc:*:*:*:*:classic:*:*:* Versions 20.004.30005 – 20.004.30006 Vulnerable ·Adobe
- cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat_dc:*:*:*:*:classic:*:*:* Versions 17.011.30158 – 17.011.30199 Vulnerable ·Adobe
- cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat_reader_dc:*:*:*:*:classic:*:*:* Versions 17.011.30158 – 17.011.30199 Vulnerable ·Adobe
Remediation
No fixed version listed by the sources yet.
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2021-35982
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-qxwf-3xfr-gcp8
References
More Adobe Acrobat Dc vulnerabilities
- 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
- TI-2018-03558 Double free in Adobe Acrobat and Reader 2018.011.20038 and earlier, 2017.011.30079 and… KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
- TI-2026-26867 Acrobat Reader | Improperly Controlled Modification of Object Prototype Attributes ('Prototype Pollution') (CWE-1321) KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 8.6
- TI-2023-11518 [Google Project Zero] Adobe Acrobat DC OOBW 0-day actively exploited in the wild KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 7.8
- TI-2023-07999 Adobe Acrobat Reader DC resetForm Use-After-Free Remote Code Execution Vulnerability KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 7.8
Sources
- CVE-2021-35982 · CVE Program
- CVE-2021-35982 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-qxwf-3xfr-gcp8 · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
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