CVE-2020-3801

Arbitrary code execution via use-after-free

Published Mar 25, 2020 · Updated Aug 4, 2024

Use-after-free in affected Adobe Acrobat and Reader releases allows attackers to execute arbitrary code as the current user via unspecified vectors. A researcher advisory associates the issue with an XFA PDF that executes JavaScript, but Adobe does not disclose the affected function or invalid object-lifetime operation. Code execution is confined to the privileges of the user running the application.

CVSS severity9.8
Critical
EPSS probability4.78%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
Coverage for this vulnerability

See if you're affected

Explore vulnerability checks for your environment with Hinoki.

Book a demo

Summary

What happened

Use-after-free in affected Adobe Acrobat and Reader releases allows attackers to execute arbitrary code as the current user via unspecified vectors. A researcher advisory associates the issue with an XFA PDF that executes JavaScript, but Adobe does not disclose the affected function or invalid object-lifetime operation. Code execution is confined to the privileges of the user running the application.

The record

CVE
CVE-2020-3801
Published
Mar 25, 2020
Updated
Aug 4, 2024
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-416, T1203
Attack vector
Unavailable
Privileges
Unavailable

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Mar 25, 2020CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 4, 2024Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

Compare your product and version with the public record. A matching version still requires validation against your environment.

Is a vulnerable build present?

Affected buildAffected product and version details are unavailable.

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorUnavailable in this record.
Required privilegesUnavailable in this record.

What is affected?

Affected products and versions are unavailable in this record.

Published CVSS scores

7.5NIST NVDAV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P
9.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
VectorUnavailable
PrivilegesUnavailable
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-416Use After Free
T1203Exploitation for Client Execution

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

See the directory against your own environment.

Your stack

Check the software in your environment

Book a demo to see how Hinoki identifies affected software and validates exploitability in your environment.

Book a demo