Known exploited vulnerability
CVE-2023-21608
The short answer
CVE-2023-21608 affects Adobe Acrobat Reader and is rated high (CVSS 7.8). CISA added it to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on 2023-10-10: attackers are using it, so patch it first.
What it is
Adobe Acrobat Reader versions 22.003.20282 (and earlier), 22.003.20281 (and earlier) and 20.005.30418 (and earlier) are affected by a Use After Free vulnerability that could result in 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.
Weakness: CWE-416.
Severity
7.8 high
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Exploited (CISA KEV)
Yes, since Oct 10, 2023
Federal due date Oct 31, 2023
EPSS, next 30 days
59%
Higher than 99% of scored CVEs
How it can be exploited
- Attack vector
- Local
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- Required
- Scope
- Unchanged
- Confidentiality impact
- High
- Integrity impact
- High
- Availability impact
- High
What CISA says to do
Apply mitigations per vendor instructions or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable.
Affected products
Acrobat Reader. NVD's record lists the exact affected versions.
References
- helpx.adobe.com/security/products/acrobat/apsb23-01.html Vendor Advisory
- helpx.adobe.com/security/products/acrobat/apsb23-01.html Vendor Advisory
- www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2023-21608 Third Party AdvisoryUS Government Resource
Questions
Is CVE-2023-21608 being exploited?
Yes. CISA added CVE-2023-21608 to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on 2023-10-10, with a federal remediation due date of 2023-10-31.
How do I fix CVE-2023-21608?
CISA's required action: Apply mitigations per vendor instructions or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable.
From NVD, CISA KEV, FIRST EPSS and OSV.dev, checked . Status on NVD: Analyzed. The description is NVD's text, quoted as published.
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