CVE-2023-26405

Sandbox escape via undocumented HTTP request verb

Published Apr 12, 2023 · Updated Mar 5, 2025

Improper input validation in Adobe Acrobat Reader through 23.001.20093 and 20.005.30441 allows sandbox escape by remote attackers via a crafted PDF. The Net.HTTP.request method accepts an undocumented verb that opens a mini-browser session outside the API restrictions enforced by the sandbox. A victim must open the crafted file or visit a malicious page; successful exploitation executes arbitrary code in the current process context.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability4.31%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Improper input validation in Adobe Acrobat Reader through 23.001.20093 and 20.005.30441 allows sandbox escape by remote attackers via a crafted PDF. The Net.HTTP.request method accepts an undocumented verb that opens a mini-browser session outside the API restrictions enforced by the sandbox. A victim must open the crafted file or visit a malicious page; successful exploitation executes arbitrary code in the current process context.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-26405
Published
Apr 12, 2023
Updated
Mar 5, 2025
Vendor
Adobe
Product
Adobe Acrobat Reader
Classifications
CWE-20, T1203
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Apr 12, 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 <=20.005.30441
  2. Affected versionversion=unspecified <=23.001.20093
  3. Affected versionversion=unspecified <=None

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Adobe · Adobe Acrobat Readerversion=unspecified <=20.005.30441; version=unspecified <=23.001.20093; version=unspecified <=None

Published CVSS scores

8.6Adobe PSIRTCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.8Zero Day InitiativeCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.8Adobe Systems Incorporated CNACVSS: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-20Improper Input Validation
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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