---
title: "CVE-2023-21608: Adobe Acrobat and Reader Use-After-Free Vulnerability"
url: https://erroneo.us/security/cve/CVE-2023-21608/
description: "CVE-2023-21608 (Adobe Acrobat and Reader): Exploited in the wild (CISA KEV). Adobe Acrobat Reader versions 22.003.20282 (and earlier), 22.003.20281 (and…"
type: vulnerability-record
section: "Security Digest"
date_published: 2023-01-18
date_modified: 2025-10-21
publisher: erroneo.us
author: erroneo.us Security Desk
cve: "CVE-2023-21608"
kev: true
cvss: 7.8
epss: 0.59427
license: All rights reserved. Quote with attribution and a link.
---

# CVE-2023-21608: Adobe Acrobat and Reader 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 and Reader. CISA added this CVE to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on 2023-10-10, which means there is reliable evidence of exploitation in the wild. US federal agencies must remediate by 2023-10-31 ; treat that as the outer limit, not the target.
- EPSS 59.4% , percentile 99: FIRST’s model estimates a 59.4% chance of exploitation activity in the next 30 days, higher than 99% 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 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.

## Affected products (CVE record)

- Adobe Acrobat Reader: unspecified <= 20.005.30418, unspecified <= 22.003.20282, unspecified <= 22.003.20281, unspecified <= None

## Severity

- adobe 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 2023-10-10; federal due date 2023-10-31. Known ransomware use: Unknown.
- CISA required action: Apply mitigations per vendor instructions 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): 59.43% probability of exploitation activity in the next 30 days; percentile 99.

## Sources

- [Listed in CISA KEV notes (helpx.adobe.com)](https://helpx.adobe.com/security/products/acrobat/apsb23-01.html)
- [CVE.org record CVE-2023-21608](https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-21608)
- [NVD entry CVE-2023-21608](https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-21608)
- [CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog entry](https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2023-21608)

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Source page: https://erroneo.us/security/cve/CVE-2023-21608/ · Security Digest: https://erroneo.us/security/ · More: https://erroneo.us/llms.txt