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Findings

CVE-2021-21017

Adobe Acrobat and Reader Heap-based Buffer Overflow Vulnerability

Published Feb 11, 2021 · updated Jun 16, 2026 · adobe acrobat

Acrobat Reader DC versions versions 2020.013.20074 (and earlier), 2020.001.30018 (and earlier) and 2017.011.30188 (and earlier) are affected by a heap-based buffer overflow 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.

Timeline

Detection, updates, and resolution for this record.

  1. Feb 11, 2021 · Catalog

    Detected

    Acrobat Reader DC versions versions 2020.013.20074 (and earlier), 2020.001.30018 (and earlier) and 2017.011.30188 (and earlier) are affected by a heap-based buffer overflow 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 ope

  2. Nov 3, 2021 · CISA KEV

    Known exploited

    Apply updates per vendor instructions.

  3. Nov 17, 2021 · CISA KEV

    Remediation due

    Apply updates per vendor instructions.

  4. Jun 16, 2026 · Catalog

    Updated

    Acrobat Reader DC versions versions 2020.013.20074 (and earlier), 2020.001.30018 (and earlier) and 2017.011.30188 (and earlier) are affected by a heap-based buffer overflow 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 ope

Required action

Apply updates per vendor instructions.

CISA due date Nov 17, 2021

Affected

  • cpe adobe/acrobatversion unspecified
  • cpe adobe/acrobat dcversion unspecified
  • cpe adobe/acrobat readerversion unspecified
  • cpe adobe/acrobat reader dcversion unspecified
  • vendor Adobe Acrobat and Readerversion unspecified

Sources

  • CISA KEVCVE-2021-21017

    Acrobat Acrobat and Reader contain a heap-based buffer overflow vulnerability that could allow an unauthenticated attacker to achieve code execution in the context of the current user.

    cisa.gov
  • CVE.orgCVE-2021-21017

    Official CVE identifier

    cve.org
  • FIRST EPSSCVE-2021-21017

    30-day exploitation probability 86.3%

    first.org
  • NIST NVDCVE-2021-21017

    Acrobat Reader DC versions versions 2020.013.20074 (and earlier), 2020.001.30018 (and earlier) and 2017.011.30188 (and earlier) are affected by a heap-based buffer overflow vulnerability. An unauthenticated attacker could leverage this vulnerability to achieve arbitrary code exec

    nvd.nist.gov

References