CVE-2024-39420Public exploit

Arbitrary code execution via raced annotation page lookup

Published Aug 14, 2024 · Updated Sep 16, 2024

TOCTOU race condition in Adobe Acrobat and Acrobat Reader allows attackers to execute arbitrary code through a malicious PDF. PDF JavaScript changes an annotation object's page between two CPDAnnot::getPage calls, causing the second page index to select the wrong annotation buffer for an out-of-bounds write. A victim must open the file, after which successful exploitation executes code in the application user's context.

CVSS severity7.0
High
EPSS probability3.49%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

TOCTOU race condition in Adobe Acrobat and Acrobat Reader allows attackers to execute arbitrary code through a malicious PDF. PDF JavaScript changes an annotation object's page between two CPDAnnot::getPage calls, causing the second page index to select the wrong annotation buffer for an out-of-bounds write. A victim must open the file, after which successful exploitation executes code in the application user's context.

The record

CVE
CVE-2024-39420
Published
Aug 14, 2024
Updated
Sep 16, 2024
Vendor
Adobe
Product
Adobe Acrobat
Classifications
CWE-367, T1204.002, T1203
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Aug 14, 2024CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Sep 16, 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 <=24.001.30123
  2. Affected versionversion=0 <=24.002.20964
  3. Affected versionversion=0 <=24.002.20991
  4. Affected versionversion=20.0 <=20.005.30635
  5. Affected versionversion=20.0 <=20.005.30636

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Adobe · Adobe Acrobatversion=0 <=24.001.30123; version=0 <=24.002.20964; version=0 <=24.002.20991; version=20.0 <=20.005.30635; version=20.0 <=20.005.30636
Adobe · Adobe Acrobat Readerversion=0 <=20.005.30635; version=0 <=20.005.30636; version=0 <=24.002.20964; version=0 <=24.002.20991; version=0 <=24.003.20054

Published CVSS scores

8.8Cisco TalosCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.0Adobe Systems IncorporatedCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/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 exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-367Time-of-check Time-of-use (TOCTOU) Race Condition
T1204.002Malicious File
T1203Exploitation for Client Execution

Public exploit references

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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