CVE-2021-27038

Code execution via PDF parser type confusion

Published Jul 9, 2021 · Updated Aug 3, 2024

Type confusion in Autodesk Design Review 2011, 2012, 2013, 2017, and 2018 allows attackers to execute code via a crafted PDF file. The PDF parser fails to validate untrusted data before treating an object as an incompatible type, causing type confusion in the current process. Exploitation requires the target to open the file or visit a malicious page, and resulting code runs with the current process's privileges.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability1.77%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Type confusion in Autodesk Design Review 2011, 2012, 2013, 2017, and 2018 allows attackers to execute code via a crafted PDF file. The PDF parser fails to validate untrusted data before treating an object as an incompatible type, causing type confusion in the current process. Exploitation requires the target to open the file or visit a malicious page, and resulting code runs with the current process's privileges.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-27038
Published
Jul 9, 2021
Updated
Aug 3, 2024
Vendor
Autodesk
Product
Autodesk Design Review
Classifications
CWE-843, T1204.002
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jul 9, 2021CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 3, 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=2018, 2017, 2013, 2012, 2011

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Autodesk · Autodesk Design Reviewversion=2018, 2017, 2013, 2012, 2011

Published CVSS scores

6.8NIST NVDAV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P
7.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/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 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-843Access of Resource Using Incompatible Type ('Type Confusion')
T1204.002User Execution: Malicious File

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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