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CVE-2021-28550

Adobe Acrobat Reader use after free vulnerability could lead to arbitrary code execution

HIGH
8.8
CVSS Score
Published: September 2, 2021 at 04:07 PM UTC
Updated: June 17, 2026 at 03:46 AM UTC
3 products affected across 1 vendorAcrobat ReaderAcrobatAcrobat DC· also runs on 2 platforms

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Severity
HIGH8.8
Exploitation
CISA KEV
Exploit prediction
EPSS 52%
SSVC
Active

Actively Exploited

CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) Catalog

EPSS Score51.9%

EPSS (Exploit Prediction Scoring System) estimates a 51.9% chance this CVE is exploited in the wild within the next 30 days — higher than 99% of all CVEs. It complements CVSS: a high EPSS on a mid-severity CVE can still be urgent.

Adobe Acrobat and Reader contains a use-after-free vulnerability that could allow an unauthenticated attacker to achieve code execution in the context of the current user.

Required Action
Apply updates per vendor instructions.
Ransomware Use
Unknown
Added to KEV
Nov 3, 2021
Remediation Due
Nov 17, 2021
1808 days overdue
Notes
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-28550

Description

Acrobat Reader DC versions versions 2021.001.20150 (and earlier), 2020.001.30020 (and earlier) and 2017.011.30194 (and earlier) are affected by a Use After Free vulnerability. An unauthenticated attacker could leverage this vulnerability to achieve arbitrary code execution in the context of the current user. Exploitation of this issue requires user interaction in that a victim must open a malicious file.

Affected

Our own answer: ranges merged, affected separated from platform-only, with confidence and review flags.

Acrobat· Adobe
95%
17.011.30059 ≤ v ≤ 17.011.3019420.001.30005 ≤ v ≤ 20.001.30020
apple-macos (environment) · microsoft-windows (environment)
Acrobat DC· Adobe
95%
15.008.20082 ≤ v ≤ 21.001.2014915.008.20082 ≤ v ≤ 21.001.20150
apple-macos (environment) · microsoft-windows (environment)
Acrobat Reader· Adobe
95%
v ≤ 2017.011.30194v ≤ 2020.001.30020v ≤ 2021.001.2015017.011.30059 ≤ v ≤ 17.011.3019420.001.30005 ≤ v ≤ 20.001.30020
apple-macos (environment) · microsoft-windows (environment)

Runs on — not affected

The affected product only carries this flaw when running on these platforms. The platforms themselves are not vulnerable.

Remediation

No guide yet

No remediation guidance has been written for this CVE yet. What the record does show:

Patch and advisory references

References (2)

x_refsource_MISCRelease NotesVendor Advisory
Source: [email protected]
https://helpx.adobe.com/security/products/acrobat/apsb21-29.html
Third Party AdvisoryUS Government Resource
Source: 134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0
https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2021-28550

SSVC — Action Prioritization

SSVCActiveNot automatableTotal impact

SSVC signals action urgency (what to patch first), separate from CVSS which measures severity.

CVSS

8.8HIGH[email protected]
Attack Vector
NETWORK
Complexity
LOW
Privileges
NONE
User Interaction
REQUIRED
Scope
UNCHANGED
Confidentiality
HIGH
Integrity
HIGH
Availability
HIGH
Vector?

Quick Info

StatusANALYZED
CWE
CWE-416

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