CVE-2023-26423

Code execution via unchecked Doc object lifetime

Published Apr 12, 2023 · Updated Mar 5, 2025

Use-after-free in Adobe Acrobat Reader allows remote attackers to execute code via a malicious file in affected 2020 and DC releases. The AcroForm insertItemAt path operates on a Doc object without verifying that the object still exists, causing access after its lifetime ends. A victim must open the file or visit a malicious page; successful exploitation runs code in the current user's process.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability3.14%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
Coverage for this vulnerability

See if you're affected

Explore vulnerability checks for your environment with Hinoki.

Book a demo

Summary

What happened

Use-after-free in Adobe Acrobat Reader allows remote attackers to execute code via a malicious file in affected 2020 and DC releases. The AcroForm insertItemAt path operates on a Doc object without verifying that the object still exists, causing access after its lifetime ends. A victim must open the file or visit a malicious page; successful exploitation runs code in the current user's process.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-26423
Published
Apr 12, 2023
Updated
Mar 5, 2025
Vendor
Adobe
Product
Adobe Acrobat Reader
Classifications
CWE-416, T1203, T1204.002
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

Compare your product and version with the public record. A matching version still requires validation against your environment.

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

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.

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-416Use After Free
T1203Exploitation for Client Execution
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

See the directory against your own environment.

Your stack

Check the software in your environment

Book a demo to see how Hinoki identifies affected software and validates exploitability in your environment.

Book a demo