---
title: "CVE-2020-9715: Adobe Acrobat Use-After-Free Vulnerability"
url: https://erroneo.us/security/cve/CVE-2020-9715/
description: "CVE-2020-9715 (Adobe Acrobat): Exploited in the wild (CISA KEV). Adobe Acrobat and Reader versions 2020.009.20074 and earlier, 2020.001.30002…"
type: vulnerability-record
section: "Security Digest"
date_published: 2020-08-19
date_modified: 2026-04-13
publisher: erroneo.us
author: erroneo.us Security Desk
cve: "CVE-2020-9715"
kev: true
cvss: 7.8
epss: 0.33491
license: All rights reserved. Quote with attribution and a link.
---

# CVE-2020-9715: Adobe Acrobat Use-After-Free Vulnerability

**Signal:** Exploited: patch now if you run it. CISA has confirmed exploitation in the wild. (Computed from CISA KEV, EPSS and CVSS; not an editorial verdict.)

## Should you act?

- Yes, if you run Adobe Acrobat. CISA added this CVE to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on 2026-04-13, which means there is reliable evidence of exploitation in the wild. US federal agencies must remediate by 2026-04-27 ; treat that as the outer limit, not the target.
- EPSS 33.5% , percentile 98: FIRST’s model estimates a 33.5% chance of exploitation activity in the next 30 days, higher than 98% of all scored CVEs (very high). EPSS is a probability, not a verdict.
- Needs local access needed. Lower urgency for most teams unless an attacker could already run code on the machine.

## What it is

Adobe Acrobat and Reader versions 2020.009.20074 and earlier, 2020.001.30002, 2017.011.30171 and earlier, and 2015.006.30523 and earlier have an use-after-free vulnerability. Successful exploitation could lead to arbitrary code execution .

## Affected products (CVE record)

- Adobe Adobe Acrobat and Reader: 2020.009.20074 and earlier, 2020.001.30002, 2017.011.30171 and earlier, and 2015.006.30523 and earlier versions

## Severity

- CISA-ADP CVSS 3.1: 7.8 `CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`

## Exploitation

- CISA KEV: added 2026-04-13; federal due date 2026-04-27. Known ransomware use: Unknown.
- CISA required action: Apply mitigations per vendor instructions, follow applicable BOD 22-01 guidance for cloud services, or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable.
- CISA SSVC assessment: exploitation active , automatable no , technical impact total .
- FIRST EPSS (model of 2026-10-21): 33.49% probability of exploitation activity in the next 30 days; percentile 98.

## Sources

- [Listed in CISA KEV notes (helpx.adobe.com)](https://helpx.adobe.com/security/products/acrobat/apsb20-48.html)
- [CVE.org record CVE-2020-9715](https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2020-9715)
- [NVD entry CVE-2020-9715](https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-9715)
- [CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog entry](https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2020-9715)
- [zerodayinitiative.com](https://www.zerodayinitiative.com/advisories/ZDI-20-991/)
- [blog.exodusintel.com](https://blog.exodusintel.com/2021/04/20/analysis-of-a-use-after-free-vulnerability-in-adobe-acrobat-reader-dc/)

---
Source page: https://erroneo.us/security/cve/CVE-2020-9715/ · Security Digest: https://erroneo.us/security/ · More: https://erroneo.us/llms.txt