CVE-2022-27800

Code execution via annotation object use-after-free

Published May 11, 2022 · Updated May 27, 2026

Use-after-free in annotation processing in Adobe Acrobat Reader 22.001.20085 and earlier allows attackers to execute code via a malicious PDF. The annotation handler operates on an object without validating that it still exists, dereferencing memory after the object has been freed. A victim must open the file; successful exploitation executes code with the current user's privileges on Windows or macOS.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability3.81%
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 annotation processing in Adobe Acrobat Reader 22.001.20085 and earlier allows attackers to execute code via a malicious PDF. The annotation handler operates on an object without validating that it still exists, dereferencing memory after the object has been freed. A victim must open the file; successful exploitation executes code with the current user's privileges on Windows or macOS.

The record

CVE
CVE-2022-27800
Published
May 11, 2022
Updated
May 27, 2026
Vendor
Adobe
Product
Adobe Acrobat Reader
Classifications
CWE-416, T1203
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. May 11, 2022CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. May 27, 2026Record 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.

  1. Affected versionversion=unspecified <=17.012.30205
  2. Affected versionversion=unspecified <=20.005.3031x
  3. Affected versionversion=unspecified <=22.001.20085
  4. Affected versionversion=unspecified <=None

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Adobe · Adobe Acrobat Readerversion=unspecified <=17.012.30205; version=unspecified <=20.005.3031x; version=unspecified <=22.001.20085; version=unspecified <=None

Published CVSS scores

7.8AdobeCVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
9.3NIST NVDAV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C

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-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