CVE-2021-45067Public exploit

Sensitive memory disclosure via ANSI-Unicode confusion

Published Jan 14, 2022 · Updated Sep 16, 2024

Out-of-bounds memory access in Adobe Acrobat Reader allows local users to disclose sensitive memory via a malicious file. XFA processing treats an ANSI string as Unicode, reads beyond the intended buffer, and exposes memory from the sandboxed Reader process. A victim must open the crafted file; affected releases include Continuous 21.007.20099 and earlier, Classic 2020 20.004.30017 and earlier, and Classic 2017 17.011.30204 and earlier, and the leak can weaken ASLR without modifying data or interrupting the application.

CVSS severity5.5
Medium
EPSS probability3.53%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Out-of-bounds memory access in Adobe Acrobat Reader allows local users to disclose sensitive memory via a malicious file. XFA processing treats an ANSI string as Unicode, reads beyond the intended buffer, and exposes memory from the sandboxed Reader process. A victim must open the crafted file; affected releases include Continuous 21.007.20099 and earlier, Classic 2020 20.004.30017 and earlier, and Classic 2017 17.011.30204 and earlier, and the leak can weaken ASLR without modifying data or interrupting the application.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-45067
Published
Jan 14, 2022
Updated
Sep 16, 2024
Vendor
Adobe
Product
Adobe Acrobat Reader
Classifications
CWE-788, CWE-119, T1204.002
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jan 14, 2022CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Sep 16, 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 <=17.011.30204
  2. Affected versionversion=unspecified <=20.004.30017
  3. Affected versionversion=unspecified <=21.007.20099
  4. Affected versionversion=unspecified <=None

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Adobe · Adobe Acrobat Readerversion=unspecified <=17.011.30204; version=unspecified <=20.004.30017; version=unspecified <=21.007.20099; version=unspecified <=None

Published CVSS scores

4.3NIST National Vulnerability DatabaseAV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:P/I:N/A:N
5.5Adobe Systems IncorporatedCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N

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 exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-788Access of Memory Location After End of Buffer
CWE-119Improper Restriction of Operations within the Bounds of a Memory Buffer
T1204.002Malicious File

Public exploit references

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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