CVE-2021-21017Acrobat Reader DC Heap-based Buffer Overflow Vulnerability Could Lead To Arbitrary Code Execution
Updated under an hour ago ()
Does this affect you?
It affects Adobe Acrobat Reader and 3 other products. Add what you run to find out whether that includes you.
CISA lists it as known exploited since Nov 3, 2021; federal agencies had to remediate by Nov 17, 2021. Treat that date as your deadline.
Do this next
Free account, 1 product
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.
- CVSS
- 8.8 HIGH (v3.1, CNA)CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
- Weakness (CWE)
- CWE-122
- Known exploited
- Added to CISA KEV Nov 3, 2021; federal remediation due Nov 17, 2021Apply updates per vendor instructions.
- EPSS (exploitation in the next 30 days)
- 86.33% (percentile 100)
- Assigned by
- adobe
- NVD analysis
- Analyzed
- Record last updated
- Oct 21, 2025
- First seen by InfoSec Signals
- Oct 9, 2026
Affected products
Adobe Acrobat Reader adobe:acrobat_reader (from the name) | from unspecified through 2020.013.20074; from unspecified through 2020.001.30018; from unspecified through 2017.011.30188; from unspecified through None | CNA record |
adobe acrobat adobe:acrobat | from 17.0 through 17.011.30188; from 20.0 through 20.001.30018 | NVD |
adobe acrobat_dc adobe:acrobat_dc | through 20.013.20074 | NVD |
adobe acrobat_reader adobe:acrobat_reader | from 17.0 through 17.011.30188; from 20.0 through 20.001.300183 | NVD |
adobe acrobat_reader_dc adobe:acrobat_reader_dc | through 20.013.20074 | NVD |
References
- https://helpx.adobe.com/security/products/acrobat/apsb21-09.htmlx-refsource-misc, vendor-advisory
- https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2021-21017third-party-advisory, us-government-resource
The CVE record on cve.org NVD's entry
The CVE record is authoritative. Products marked “from the name” were identified from the CNA's free-text names, not a CPE, and are matched less certainly. This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD.