CVE-2023-21608
Adobe Acrobat and Reader Use-After-Free Vulnerability
Does this matter?
Known to be exploited in the wild (CISA KEV, CISA remediation deadline 31 October 2023). Treat as an emergency change: patch or isolate now, then hunt for prior compromise.
Description
Adobe Acrobat Reader versions 22.003.20282 (and earlier), 22.003.20281 (and earlier) and 20.005.30418 (and earlier) are affected by a Use After Free vulnerability 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.
- CVSS 3.1
- 7.8 HIGHCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
- EPSS
- 59.43% probability · 99th percentile
- Public exploits
- None in Exploit-DB
- CISA KEV
- Listed 10 October 2023 · due 31 October 2023
- Weakness
- CWE-416
- Affected
- adobe/acrobat dc · adobe/acrobat reader dc · adobe/acrobat · adobe/acrobat reader
- Source
- psirt@adobe.com
EPSS moved from 59.2% on 13 October 2026 to 59.4% on 30 October 2026. The dashed line is the ten per cent mark our analysts treat as “patch before the next change window”.
CISA notes
Apply mitigations per vendor instructions or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable. https://helpx.adobe.com/security/products/acrobat/apsb23-01.html; https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-21608
References
- https://helpx.adobe.com/security/products/acrobat/apsb23-01.htmlVendor Advisory
- https://helpx.adobe.com/security/products/acrobat/apsb23-01.htmlVendor Advisory
- https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2023-21608Third Party Advisory, US Government Resource
Source: NVD record, EPSS from FIRST.org, KEV from CISA, exploits from Exploit-DB. Refreshed daily. Download this record as JSON.