Adobe Acrobat Reader DC Use After Free Arbitrary Code Execution
Priority HIGH 69CWE-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 3.1 · CNA. Fix status from CNA. Impact type from CWE-416 and the CVSS impact.
Summary
Adobe Acrobat Reader DC version 21.007.20095 (and earlier), 21.007.20096 (and earlier), 20.004.30015 (and earlier), and 17.011.30202 (and earlier) is affected by a use-after-free vulnerability in the processing of the GetURL function on a global object window 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
Exploitation None reported CISA SSVC · not in CISA KEV
EPSS 0.54627 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
- 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 21.007.20095; up to 21.007.20096; up to 20.004.30015; up to 17.011.30202 | — | No fix listed | CNA |
- Acrobat Reader VendorAdobe Affected up to 21.007.20095; up to 21.007.20096; up to 20.004.30015; up to 17.011.30202 Fixed in — No fix listed CNA
CPE configurations NVD · 10
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat_dc:*:*:*:*:continuous:*:*:* | 15.008.20082 – 21.007.20095 | Vulnerable | Adobe |
| cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat_reader_dc:*:*:*:*:continuous:*:*:* | 15.008.20082 – 21.007.20095 | Vulnerable | Adobe |
| cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | not specified by NVD | Running on | Microsoft |
| cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat_dc:*:*:*:*:continuous:*:*:* | 15.008.20082 – 21.007.20096 | Vulnerable | Adobe |
| cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat_reader_dc:*:*:*:*:continuous:*:*:* | 15.008.20082 – 21.007.20096 | Vulnerable | Adobe |
| cpe:2.3:o:apple:macos:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | not specified by NVD | Running on | Apple |
| cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat:*:*:*:*:classic:*:*:* | 20.001.30005 – 20.004.30015 | Vulnerable | Adobe |
| cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat_reader:*:*:*:*:classic:*:*:* | 20.001.30005 – 20.004.30015 | Vulnerable | Adobe |
| cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat:*:*:*:*:classic:*:*:* | 17.011.30158 – 17.011.30202 | Vulnerable | Adobe |
| cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat_reader:*:*:*:*:classic:*:*:* | 17.011.30158 – 17.011.30202 | Vulnerable | Adobe |
- cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat_dc:*:*:*:*:continuous:*:*:* Versions 15.008.20082 – 21.007.20095 Vulnerable ·Adobe
- cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat_reader_dc:*:*:*:*:continuous:*:*:* Versions 15.008.20082 – 21.007.20095 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 15.008.20082 – 21.007.20096 Vulnerable ·Adobe
- cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat_reader_dc:*:*:*:*:continuous:*:*:* Versions 15.008.20082 – 21.007.20096 Vulnerable ·Adobe
- cpe:2.3:o:apple:macos:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions not specified by NVD Running on ·Apple
- cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat:*:*:*:*:classic:*:*:* Versions 20.001.30005 – 20.004.30015 Vulnerable ·Adobe
- cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat_reader:*:*:*:*:classic:*:*:* Versions 20.001.30005 – 20.004.30015 Vulnerable ·Adobe
- cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat:*:*:*:*:classic:*:*:* Versions 17.011.30158 – 17.011.30202 Vulnerable ·Adobe
- cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat_reader:*:*:*:*:classic:*:*:* Versions 17.011.30158 – 17.011.30202 Vulnerable ·Adobe
Remediation
No fixed version listed by the sources yet.
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2021-40728
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-pq3q-h37w-5953
- 2026-10-11 EPSS moved to the 99th percentile and above
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-2021-40728 · CVE Program
- CVE-2021-40728 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-pq3q-h37w-5953 · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
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