CVE-2023-21586

Application crash via crafted PDF

Published Dec 18, 2024 · Updated Dec 19, 2024

NULL pointer dereference in Adobe Acrobat Reader 22.003.20282 and earlier on Windows allows remote attackers to crash the app via a crafted PDF. Adobe has not disclosed the parser or PDF element that produces the invalid object reference before the null pointer is dereferenced. The issue also affects 22.003.20281 and earlier on macOS and Reader 2020 20.005.30418 and earlier; exploitation requires a victim to open the file.

CVSS severity5.5
Medium
EPSS probability2.10%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

NULL pointer dereference in Adobe Acrobat Reader 22.003.20282 and earlier on Windows allows remote attackers to crash the app via a crafted PDF. Adobe has not disclosed the parser or PDF element that produces the invalid object reference before the null pointer is dereferenced. The issue also affects 22.003.20281 and earlier on macOS and Reader 2020 20.005.30418 and earlier; exploitation requires a victim to open the file.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-21586
Published
Dec 18, 2024
Updated
Dec 19, 2024
Vendor
Adobe
Product
Adobe Acrobat Reader
Classifications
CWE-476, T1204.002
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 <=22.003.20281

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Adobe · Adobe Acrobat Readerversion=0 <=22.003.20281

Published CVSS scores

5.5AdobeCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:N/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-476NULL Pointer Dereference
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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