User-context code execution via stack buffer overflow
Published Oct 14, 2022 · Updated Apr 23, 2025
A stack-based buffer overflow in Adobe Acrobat Reader allows attackers to execute code as the current user via a malicious file. Adobe has not disclosed the affected parser, memory-copy operation, or input field that overruns the stack buffer. Exploitation requires the victim to open the file, and resulting code runs with that user's privileges.
Summary
What happened
A stack-based buffer overflow in Adobe Acrobat Reader allows attackers to execute code as the current user via a malicious file. Adobe has not disclosed the affected parser, memory-copy operation, or input field that overruns the stack buffer. Exploitation requires the victim to open the file, and resulting code runs with that user's privileges.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2022-42339
- Published
- Oct 14, 2022
- Updated
- Apr 23, 2025
- Vendor
- Adobe
- Product
- Adobe Acrobat Reader
- Classifications
- CWE-121, T1203, T1204.002
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- unauthenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Oct 14, 2022CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Apr 23, 2025Record 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.
- Affected versionversion=unspecified <=20.005.30381
- Affected versionversion=unspecified <=22.002.20212
- 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.
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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