Adobe Acrobat Reader DC AcroForm deleteItemAt Use-After-Free Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
Priority HIGH 70CWE-416Published · Updated
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Local
- 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 3.0 · CNA. Fix status from CNA. Impact type from CWE-416 and the CVSS impact.
Summary
Acrobat Reader DC versions 2021.005.20060 (and earlier), 2020.004.30006 (and earlier) and 2017.011.30199 (and earlier) are affected by a use-after-free vulnerability in the processing of the AcroForm deleteItemAt action that could result in 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
EPSS 0.65249 99th 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 DC 2021 July; up to 20.0-Classic 2021 July; up to 17.0-Classic 2021 July; up to None | — | No fix listed | CNA |
- Acrobat Reader VendorAdobe Affected up to DC 2021 July; up to 20.0-Classic 2021 July; up to 17.0-Classic 2021 July; up to None Fixed in — No fix listed CNA
CPE configurations NVD · 10
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat:*:*:*:*:classic:*:*:* | 20.001.30005 – 20.004.30006 | Vulnerable | Adobe |
| cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat_reader:*:*:*:*:classic:*:*:* | 20.001.30005 – 20.004.30006 | 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_dc:*:*:*:*:continuous:*:*:* | 15.008.20082 – 21.005.20058 | Vulnerable | Adobe |
| cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat_reader_dc:*:*:*:*:continuous:*:*:* | 15.008.20082 – 21.005.20058 | Vulnerable | Adobe |
| cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat_dc:*:*:*:*:continuous:*:*:* | 15.008.20082 – 21.005.20060 | Vulnerable | Adobe |
| cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat_reader_dc:*:*:*:*:continuous:*:*:* | 15.008.20082 – 21.005.20060 | Vulnerable | Adobe |
| cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat:*:*:*:*:classic:*:*:* | 17.011.30059 – 17.011.30199 | Vulnerable | Adobe |
| cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat_reader:*:*:*:*:classic:*:*:* | 17.011.30059 – 17.011.30199 | Vulnerable | Adobe |
- cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat:*:*:*:*:classic:*:*:* Versions 20.001.30005 – 20.004.30006 Vulnerable ·Adobe
- cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat_reader:*:*:*:*:classic:*:*:* Versions 20.001.30005 – 20.004.30006 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
- cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat_dc:*:*:*:*:continuous:*:*:* Versions 15.008.20082 – 21.005.20058 Vulnerable ·Adobe
- cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat_reader_dc:*:*:*:*:continuous:*:*:* Versions 15.008.20082 – 21.005.20058 Vulnerable ·Adobe
- cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat_dc:*:*:*:*:continuous:*:*:* Versions 15.008.20082 – 21.005.20060 Vulnerable ·Adobe
- cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat_reader_dc:*:*:*:*:continuous:*:*:* Versions 15.008.20082 – 21.005.20060 Vulnerable ·Adobe
- cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat:*:*:*:*:classic:*:*:* Versions 17.011.30059 – 17.011.30199 Vulnerable ·Adobe
- cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat_reader:*:*:*:*:classic:*:*:* Versions 17.011.30059 – 17.011.30199 Vulnerable ·Adobe
Remediation
No fixed version listed by the sources yet.
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2021-39837
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-xpqm-h22m-6vxm
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-2021-39837 · CVE Program
- CVE-2021-39837 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-xpqm-h22m-6vxm · 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