« Back to list

CVE-2021-28640

Status: ModifiedHigh (7.3)—

Acrobat Reader DC versions 2021.005.20054 (and earlier), 2020.004.30005 (and earlier) and 2017.011.30197 (and earlier) are affected by an Use-after-free vulnerability. An authenticated 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.

CVSS

Exploitation probability (EPSS)

EPSS (Exploit Prediction Scoring System, FIRST) estimates how likely a vulnerability is to be exploited in the wild within 30 days. It complements CVSS (impact) and CISA KEV (confirmed exploitation).

Affected technologies (2)

Adobe — Acrobat DCAdobe — Acrobat Reader DC

CWEs

References

Raw JSON (NVD)

Show
{
  "id": "CVE-2021-28640",
  "cveTags": [],
  "metrics": {
    "cvssMetricV2": [
      {
        "type": "Primary",
        "source": "nvd@nist.gov",
        "cvssData": {
          "version": "2.0",
          "baseScore": 6,
          "accessVector": "NETWORK",
          "vectorString": "AV:N/AC:M/Au:S/C:P/I:P/A:P",
          "authentication": "SINGLE",
          "integrityImpact": "PARTIAL",
          "accessComplexity": "MEDIUM",
          "availabilityImpact": "PARTIAL",
          "confidentialityImpact": "PARTIAL"
        },
        "acInsufInfo": false,
        "impactScore": 6.4,
        "baseSeverity": "MEDIUM",
        "obtainAllPrivilege": false,
        "exploitabilityScore": 6.8,
        "obtainUserPrivilege": false,
        "obtainOtherPrivilege": false,
        "userInteractionRequired": true
      }
    ],
    "cvssMetricV31": [
      {
        "type": "Secondary",
        "source": "psirt@adobe.com",
        "cvssData": {
          "scope": "UNCHANGED",
          "version": "3.1",
          "baseScore": 7.3,
          "attackVector": "LOCAL",
          "baseSeverity": "HIGH",
          "vectorString": "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H",
          "integrityImpact": "HIGH",
          "userInteraction": "REQUIRED",
          "attackComplexity": "LOW",
          "availabilityImpact": "HIGH",
          "privilegesRequired": "LOW",
          "confidentialityImpact": "HIGH"
        },
        "impactScore": 5.9,
        "exploitabilityScore": 1.3
      }
    ]
  },
  "affected": [
    {
      "source": "psirt@adobe.com",
      "affectedData": [
        {
          "vendor": "Adobe",
          "product": "Acrobat Reader",
          "versions": [
            {
              "status": "affected",
              "version": "unspecified",
              "versionType": "custom",
              "lessThanOrEqual": "2020.004.30005"
            },
            {
              "status": "affected",
              "version": "unspecified",
              "versionType": "custom",
              "lessThanOrEqual": "2017.011.30197"
            },
            {
              "status": "affected",
              "version": "unspecified",
              "versionType": "custom",
              "lessThanOrEqual": "2021.005.20054"
            },
            {
              "status": "affected",
              "version": "unspecified",
              "versionType": "custom",
              "lessThanOrEqual": "None"
            }
          ]
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "published": "2021-08-20T19:15:09.477",
  "references": [
    {
      "url": "https://helpx.adobe.com/security/products/acrobat/apsb21-51.html",
      "tags": [
        "Release Notes",
        "Vendor Advisory"
      ],
      "source": "psirt@adobe.com"
    },
    {
      "url": "https://helpx.adobe.com/security/products/acrobat/apsb21-51.html",
      "tags": [
        "Release Notes",
        "Vendor Advisory"
      ],
      "source": "af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108"
    }
  ],
  "vulnStatus": "Modified",
  "weaknesses": [
    {
      "type": "Secondary",
      "source": "psirt@adobe.com",
      "description": [
        {
          "lang": "en",
          "value": "CWE-416"
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "descriptions": [
    {
      "lang": "en",
      "value": "Acrobat Reader DC versions 2021.005.20054 (and earlier), 2020.004.30005 (and earlier) and 2017.011.30197 (and earlier) are affected by an Use-after-free vulnerability. An authenticated 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."
    },
    {
      "lang": "es",
      "value": "Acrobat Reader DC versiones 2021.005.20054 (y anteriores), 2020.004.30005 (y anteriores), y 2017.011.30197 (y anteriores), están afectadas por una vulnerabilidad de uso de memoria previamente liberada. Un atacante autenticado podría aprovechar esta vulnerabilidad para lograr una ejecución de código arbitrario en el contexto del usuario actual. Una explotación de este problema requiere una interacción del usuario, ya que la víctima debe abrir un archivo malicioso."
    }
  ],
  "lastModified": "2026-06-17T03:46:41.270",
  "configurations": [
    {
      "nodes": [
        {
          "negate": false,
          "cpeMatch": [
            {
              "criteria": "cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat_dc:*:*:*:*:continuous:*:*:*",
              "vulnerable": true,
              "matchCriteriaId": "4A62CC78-7097-4825-8B08-2212B11E1F18",
              "versionEndIncluding": "21.005.20054",
              "versionStartIncluding": "15.008.20082"
            },
            {
              "criteria": "cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat_dc:*:*:*:*:classic:*:*:*",
              "vulnerable": true,
              "matchCriteriaId": "7FDBB717-4658-426A-A98A-DA88EC0515B5",
              "versionEndIncluding": "17.011.30197",
              "versionStartIncluding": "17.011.30059"
            },
            {
              "criteria": "cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat_dc:*:*:*:*:classic:*:*:*",
              "vulnerable": true,
              "matchCriteriaId": "08E31636-C406-4C4B-8F1D-E9DFD5572FF9",
              "versionEndIncluding": "20.004.30005",
              "versionStartIncluding": "20.001.30005"
            },
            {
              "criteria": "cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat_reader_dc:*:*:*:*:continuous:*:*:*",
              "vulnerable": true,
              "matchCriteriaId": "1EC1FC1B-592F-4635-A71C-1DCFAD3063DC",
              "versionEndIncluding": "21.005.20054",
              "versionStartIncluding": "15.008.20082"
            },
            {
              "criteria": "cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat_reader_dc:*:*:*:*:classic:*:*:*",
              "vulnerable": true,
              "matchCriteriaId": "D92E01B2-E4D3-414F-8852-294499AE4226",
              "versionEndIncluding": "17.011.30197",
              "versionStartIncluding": "17.011.30059"
            },
            {
              "criteria": "cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat_reader_dc:*:*:*:*:classic:*:*:*",
              "vulnerable": true,
              "matchCriteriaId": "B78681E4-7FA9-4D05-9A5B-1B19097B5C41",
              "versionEndIncluding": "20.004.30005",
              "versionStartIncluding": "20.001.30005"
            }
          ],
          "operator": "OR"
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sourceIdentifier": "psirt@adobe.com"
}