CVE-2025-43576Public exploit

Code execution via freed annotation object reuse

Published Jun 10, 2025 · Updated Feb 26, 2026

Use-after-free in Adobe Acrobat Reader 25.001.20521 and earlier allows attackers to execute code in the current user's context. A malicious PDF's JavaScript destroys a StrikeOut annotation during scrolling, after which annotation processing accesses and reuses the freed object without validating its lifetime. The victim must open the file; successful memory corruption executes with the victim's privileges.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.55%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Use-after-free in Adobe Acrobat Reader 25.001.20521 and earlier allows attackers to execute code in the current user's context. A malicious PDF's JavaScript destroys a StrikeOut annotation during scrolling, after which annotation processing accesses and reuses the freed object without validating its lifetime. The victim must open the file; successful memory corruption executes with the victim's privileges.

The record

CVE
CVE-2025-43576
Published
Jun 10, 2025
Updated
Feb 26, 2026
Vendor
Adobe
Product
Adobe Acrobat Reader
Classifications
CWE-416, T1204.002, T1203
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jun 10, 2025CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Feb 26, 2026Record 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 <=25.001.20521

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Adobe · Adobe Acrobat Readerversion=0 <=25.001.20521

Published CVSS scores

8.8Cisco TalosCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.8AdobeCVSS: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 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-416Use After Free
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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