CVE-2022-44518

Current-user code execution through use-after-free

Published Dec 18, 2024 · Updated Dec 19, 2024

Use-after-free in Adobe Acrobat Reader allows attackers to execute code as the current user after a malicious PDF is opened. Adobe identifies invalid access to freed memory but has not disclosed the affected parser, object type, or lifetime operation. Exploitation requires the victim to open a crafted file, after which attacker-controlled code runs with the victim's application privileges.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.35%
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 allows attackers to execute code as the current user after a malicious PDF is opened. Adobe identifies invalid access to freed memory but has not disclosed the affected parser, object type, or lifetime operation. Exploitation requires the victim to open a crafted file, after which attacker-controlled code runs with the victim's application privileges.

The record

CVE
CVE-2022-44518
Published
Dec 18, 2024
Updated
Dec 19, 2024
Vendor
Adobe
Product
Adobe Acrobat Reader
Classifications
CWE-416, T1204.002, T1203
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Dec 18, 2024CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Dec 19, 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=0 <=17.012.30205

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Adobe · Adobe Acrobat Readerversion=0 <=17.012.30205

Published CVSS scores

7.8AdobeCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

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.

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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
T1204.002Malicious File
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

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Your stack

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