CVE-2022-28233

Code execution via annotation use-after-free

Published May 11, 2022 · Updated Sep 17, 2024

Use-after-free in Adobe Acrobat Reader DC 22.001.20085 and earlier allows attackers to execute code through crafted PDF annotations. The annotation-processing path accesses an object after its memory has been freed; 20.005.3031x and earlier and 17.012.30205 and earlier are also affected. A user must open the malicious file, and successful exploitation runs code with that user's privileges.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability12.51%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Use-after-free in Adobe Acrobat Reader DC 22.001.20085 and earlier allows attackers to execute code through crafted PDF annotations. The annotation-processing path accesses an object after its memory has been freed; 20.005.3031x and earlier and 17.012.30205 and earlier are also affected. A user must open the malicious file, and successful exploitation runs code with that user's privileges.

The record

CVE
CVE-2022-28233
Published
May 11, 2022
Updated
Sep 17, 2024
Vendor
Adobe
Product
Adobe Acrobat Reader
Classifications
CWE-416, T1203, T1204.002
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. May 11, 2022CVE 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 <=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

7.8Adobe Systems IncorporatedCVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
9.3NIST National Vulnerability DatabaseAV: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 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 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
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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