CVE-2023-21610

User-assisted code execution via stack buffer overflow

Published Jan 18, 2023 · Updated Mar 5, 2025

Stack-based buffer overflow in Adobe Acrobat Reader 22.003.20282 and earlier allows attackers to execute code through a malicious file. The affected range is 22.003.20281 and earlier on macOS and 20.005.30418 and earlier for Classic 2020 on both platforms. Adobe has not disclosed the affected parser or the operation that overruns stack storage; exploitation requires a victim to open the file and runs code as the current user.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability2.54%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Stack-based buffer overflow in Adobe Acrobat Reader 22.003.20282 and earlier allows attackers to execute code through a malicious file. The affected range is 22.003.20281 and earlier on macOS and 20.005.30418 and earlier for Classic 2020 on both platforms. Adobe has not disclosed the affected parser or the operation that overruns stack storage; exploitation requires a victim to open the file and runs code as the current user.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-21610
Published
Jan 18, 2023
Updated
Mar 5, 2025
Vendor
Adobe
Product
Adobe Acrobat Reader
Classifications
CWE-121, T1204.002
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jan 18, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Mar 5, 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.

  1. Affected versionversion=unspecified <=20.005.30418
  2. Affected versionversion=unspecified <=22.003.20281
  3. Affected versionversion=unspecified <=22.003.20282
  4. Affected versionversion=unspecified <=None

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Adobe · Adobe Acrobat Readerversion=unspecified <=20.005.30418; version=unspecified <=22.003.20281; version=unspecified <=22.003.20282; version=unspecified <=None

Published CVSS scores

7.8Adobe Systems IncorporatedCVSS: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.

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-121Stack-based Buffer Overflow
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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