Code execution via Format event use-after-free
Published Jan 14, 2022 · Updated Sep 16, 2024
Use-after-free in Format event actions in Adobe Acrobat Reader allows attackers to execute code through a crafted PDF. While processing a PDF Format event action, the reader accesses memory after its object lifetime ends; Adobe has not identified the freed object or exact lifetime sequence. Opening the malicious file is required, and successful exploitation runs arbitrary code with the current user's privileges in 21.007.20099 and earlier, 20.004.30017 and earlier, and 17.011.30204 and earlier.
Summary
What happened
Use-after-free in Format event actions in Adobe Acrobat Reader allows attackers to execute code through a crafted PDF. While processing a PDF Format event action, the reader accesses memory after its object lifetime ends; Adobe has not identified the freed object or exact lifetime sequence. Opening the malicious file is required, and successful exploitation runs arbitrary code with the current user's privileges in 21.007.20099 and earlier, 20.004.30017 and earlier, and 17.011.30204 and earlier.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2021-44701
- Published
- Jan 14, 2022
- Updated
- Sep 16, 2024
- Vendor
- Adobe
- Product
- Adobe Acrobat Reader
- Classifications
- CWE-416, T1204.002, T1203
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- unauthenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Jan 14, 2022CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Sep 16, 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?
Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.
- Affected versionversion=unspecified <=17.011.30204
- Affected versionversion=unspecified <=20.004.30017
- Affected versionversion=unspecified <=21.007.20099
- Affected versionversion=unspecified <=None
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
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.
Weakness, pattern, technique
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