CVE-2021-21036

Current-user code execution via malicious-file integer overflow

Published Feb 11, 2021 · Updated Sep 17, 2024

Integer overflow in Adobe Acrobat Reader DC 2020.013.20074 and earlier allows attackers to execute code through a malicious file. Adobe identifies neither the affected parsing component nor the unchecked arithmetic operation that overflows while processing the crafted file. Exploitation requires a user to open the file and runs code with that user's privileges; affected Classic releases include Acrobat Reader 2020 2020.001.30018 and earlier and Acrobat Reader 2017 2017.011.30188 and earlier.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability2.79%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Integer overflow in Adobe Acrobat Reader DC 2020.013.20074 and earlier allows attackers to execute code through a malicious file. Adobe identifies neither the affected parsing component nor the unchecked arithmetic operation that overflows while processing the crafted file. Exploitation requires a user to open the file and runs code with that user's privileges; affected Classic releases include Acrobat Reader 2020 2020.001.30018 and earlier and Acrobat Reader 2017 2017.011.30188 and earlier.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-21036
Published
Feb 11, 2021
Updated
Sep 17, 2024
Vendor
Adobe
Product
Adobe Acrobat Reader
Classifications
CWE-190, T1204.002, T1203
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Feb 11, 2021CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Sep 17, 2024Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=unspecified <=2017.011.30188
  2. Affected versionversion=unspecified <=2020.001.30018
  3. Affected versionversion=unspecified <=2020.013.20074
  4. Affected versionversion=unspecified <=None

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Adobe · Adobe Acrobat Readerversion=unspecified <=2017.011.30188; version=unspecified <=2020.001.30018; version=unspecified <=2020.013.20074; version=unspecified <=None

Published CVSS scores

7.8Adobe Systems IncorporatedCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
6.8NIST NVDAV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P

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 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-190Integer Overflow or Wraparound
T1204.002User Execution: Malicious File
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

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Your stack

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