CVE-2023-21608

HIGH KEV

Adobe Acrobat Reader <22.003.20282 - Use After Free

Title source: llm
STIX 2.1

Exploitation Summary

CVE-2023-21608 is actively exploited and listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, added October 10, 2023. EIP tracks 2 public exploits from researchers including hacksysteam, Malwareman007.

AI-analyzed exploit summary This repository contains a working proof-of-concept exploit for CVE-2023-21608, a use-after-free vulnerability in Adobe Acrobat Reader. The exploit leverages memory corruption to achieve remote code execution (RCE) by manipulating object references during a resetForm operation.

Description

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.

Exploits (2)

nomisec WORKING POC 283 stars
by hacksysteam · remote
https://github.com/hacksysteam/CVE-2023-21608

This repository contains a working proof-of-concept exploit for CVE-2023-21608, a use-after-free vulnerability in Adobe Acrobat Reader. The exploit leverages memory corruption to achieve remote code execution (RCE) by manipulating object references during a resetForm operation.

Classification
Working Poc 95%
Attack Type
Rce
Complexity
Complex
Reliability
Reliable
Target: Adobe Acrobat Reader DC (versions 22.00120085, 22.00120117, 22.00120142, 22.00320258)
No auth needed
Prerequisites: Target must open a malicious PDF file · Specific versions of Adobe Acrobat Reader DC must be used
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 16, 2026 Full analysis →
nomisec WORKING POC 12 stars
by Malwareman007 · client-side
https://github.com/Malwareman007/CVE-2023-21608

This repository contains a working proof-of-concept exploit for CVE-2023-21608, a use-after-free vulnerability in Adobe Acrobat Reader that leads to remote code execution. The exploit leverages JavaScript within a PDF to trigger the vulnerability, manipulate memory, and achieve arbitrary code execution.

Classification
Working Poc 95%
Attack Type
Rce
Complexity
Complex
Reliability
Reliable
Target: Adobe Acrobat Reader versions 22.001.20085, 22.001.20117, 22.001.20142, 22.003.20258
No auth needed
Prerequisites: Victim must open a malicious PDF file · JavaScript must be enabled in Adobe Acrobat Reader
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 16, 2026 Full analysis →

References (2)

Core 2

Scores

CVSS v3 7.8
EPSS 0.6148
EPSS Percentile 99.1%
Attack Vector LOCAL
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

CISA SSVC

Vulnrichment
Exploitation active
Automatable no
Technical Impact total

Details

CISA KEV 2023-10-10
VulnCheck KEV 2023-10-10
InTheWild.io 2023-10-10
ENISA EUVD EUVD-2023-25775
CWE
CWE-416
Status published
Products (4)
adobe/acrobat 20.001.30005 - 20.005.30418
adobe/acrobat_dc 15.008.20082 - 22.003.20282
adobe/acrobat_reader 20.001.30005 - 20.005.30418
adobe/acrobat_reader_dc 15.008.20082 - 22.003.20282
Published Jan 18, 2023
KEV Added Oct 10, 2023
Tracked Since Feb 18, 2026