« Back to list

CVE-2026-81996

Status: AnalyzedHigh (8.8)—

Acrobat Reader is affected by an Incorrect Authorization vulnerability that could result in privilege escalation. A low-privileged attacker could exploit this vulnerability to gain elevated access. Exploitation of this issue does not require user interaction. Scope is changed.

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 (3)

Adobe — AcrobatAdobe — Acrobat DCAdobe — Acrobat Reader DC

CWEs

References

Raw JSON (NVD)

Show
{
  "id": "CVE-2026-81996",
  "cveTags": [],
  "metrics": {
    "ssvcV203": [
      {
        "source": "134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0",
        "ssvcData": {
          "id": "CVE-2026-81996",
          "role": "CISA Coordinator",
          "options": [
            {
              "exploitation": "none"
            },
            {
              "automatable": "no"
            },
            {
              "technicalImpact": "total"
            }
          ],
          "version": "2.0.3",
          "timestamp": "2026-09-09T04:27:48.439009Z"
        }
      }
    ],
    "cvssMetricV31": [
      {
        "type": "Secondary",
        "source": "psirt@adobe.com",
        "cvssData": {
          "scope": "CHANGED",
          "version": "3.1",
          "baseScore": 8.8,
          "attackVector": "LOCAL",
          "baseSeverity": "HIGH",
          "vectorString": "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H",
          "integrityImpact": "HIGH",
          "userInteraction": "NONE",
          "attackComplexity": "LOW",
          "availabilityImpact": "HIGH",
          "privilegesRequired": "LOW",
          "confidentialityImpact": "HIGH"
        },
        "impactScore": 6,
        "exploitabilityScore": 2
      }
    ]
  },
  "affected": [
    {
      "source": "psirt@adobe.com",
      "affectedData": [
        {
          "vendor": "Adobe",
          "product": "Adobe Acrobat",
          "versions": [
            {
              "status": "affected",
              "version": "0",
              "versionType": "custom",
              "lessThanOrEqual": "26.002.21900"
            },
            {
              "status": "unaffected",
              "version": "26.002.21901",
              "versionType": "custom"
            }
          ],
          "defaultStatus": "unaffected"
        },
        {
          "vendor": "Adobe",
          "product": "Acrobat Reader",
          "versions": [
            {
              "status": "affected",
              "version": "0",
              "versionType": "custom",
              "lessThanOrEqual": "26.002.21900"
            },
            {
              "status": "unaffected",
              "version": "26.002.21901",
              "versionType": "custom"
            }
          ],
          "defaultStatus": "unaffected"
        },
        {
          "vendor": "Adobe",
          "product": "Acrobat 2024",
          "versions": [
            {
              "status": "affected",
              "version": "0",
              "versionType": "custom",
              "lessThanOrEqual": "24.001.30383"
            },
            {
              "status": "unaffected",
              "version": "24.001.30429",
              "versionType": "custom"
            }
          ],
          "defaultStatus": "unaffected"
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "published": "2026-09-08T21:18:46.347",
  "references": [
    {
      "url": "https://helpx.adobe.com/security/products/acrobat/apsb26-141.html",
      "tags": [
        "Vendor Advisory"
      ],
      "source": "psirt@adobe.com"
    }
  ],
  "vulnStatus": "Analyzed",
  "weaknesses": [
    {
      "type": "Secondary",
      "source": "psirt@adobe.com",
      "description": [
        {
          "lang": "en",
          "value": "CWE-863"
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "descriptions": [
    {
      "lang": "en",
      "value": "Acrobat Reader is affected by an Incorrect Authorization vulnerability that could result in privilege escalation. A low-privileged attacker could exploit this vulnerability to gain elevated access. Exploitation of this issue does not require user interaction. Scope is changed."
    }
  ],
  "lastModified": "2026-09-10T16:27:51.693",
  "configurations": [
    {
      "nodes": [
        {
          "negate": false,
          "cpeMatch": [
            {
              "criteria": "cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat:*:*:*:*:classic:*:*:*",
              "vulnerable": true,
              "matchCriteriaId": "0638C53B-2AE7-4415-81CC-4685868008D1",
              "versionEndExcluding": "24.001.30429",
              "versionStartIncluding": "24.0.0"
            },
            {
              "criteria": "cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat_dc:*:*:*:*:continuous:*:*:*",
              "vulnerable": true,
              "matchCriteriaId": "B9192F4D-A119-46C4-A167-F500ACB3ACAB",
              "versionEndExcluding": "26.002.21901",
              "versionStartIncluding": "15.008.20082"
            },
            {
              "criteria": "cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat_reader_dc:*:*:*:*:continuous:*:*:*",
              "vulnerable": true,
              "matchCriteriaId": "2FEAAE8A-F164-4DCA-8F08-9BC646831744",
              "versionEndExcluding": "26.002.21901",
              "versionStartIncluding": "15.008.20082"
            }
          ],
          "operator": "OR"
        },
        {
          "negate": false,
          "cpeMatch": [
            {
              "criteria": "cpe:2.3:o:apple:macos:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*",
              "vulnerable": false,
              "matchCriteriaId": "387021A0-AF36-463C-A605-32EA7DAC172E"
            },
            {
              "criteria": "cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*",
              "vulnerable": false,
              "matchCriteriaId": "A2572D17-1DE6-457B-99CC-64AFD54487EA"
            }
          ],
          "operator": "OR"
        }
      ],
      "operator": "AND"
    }
  ],
  "sourceIdentifier": "psirt@adobe.com"
}