Code execution via embedded-font object use-after-free
Published Nov 16, 2023 · Updated Dec 16, 2025
Use-after-free in Adobe Acrobat Reader allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code through a malicious file opened by the target. The embedded-font parser performs operations on an object without first validating that the object still exists, allowing reuse of freed memory. The target must visit a malicious page or open a malicious file; successful exploitation runs code in the Reader process and current-user context.
Summary
What happened
Use-after-free in Adobe Acrobat Reader allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code through a malicious file opened by the target. The embedded-font parser performs operations on an object without first validating that the object still exists, allowing reuse of freed memory. The target must visit a malicious page or open a malicious file; successful exploitation runs code in the Reader process and current-user context.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2023-44371
- Published
- Nov 16, 2023
- Updated
- Dec 16, 2025
- Vendor
- Adobe
- Product
- Adobe Acrobat Reader
- Classifications
- CWE-416, T1204.002, T1203
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- unauthenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Nov 16, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Dec 16, 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.
- Affected versionversion=0 <=23.006.20360
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
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.
Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
No public exploit references are available in this record.
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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