CVE-2023-26417 in Acrobat Reader
Summary
by MITRE • 04/13/2023
Adobe Acrobat Reader versions 23.001.20093 (and earlier) and 20.005.30441 (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.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/09/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-26417 represents a critical use after free flaw in Adobe Acrobat Reader applications that affects multiple version ranges including 23.001.20093 and earlier, as well as 20.005.30441 and earlier. This type of vulnerability occurs when a program continues to reference memory after it has been freed, creating a dangerous condition that can be exploited by attackers to execute arbitrary code. The flaw specifically impacts Adobe Acrobat Reader's handling of maliciously crafted files, making it a prime target for targeted attacks in environments where users frequently open PDF documents.
From a technical perspective, the use after free vulnerability in Adobe Acrobat Reader stems from improper memory management within the application's PDF parsing and rendering components. When processing specially crafted PDF files, the application fails to properly validate memory references after certain objects have been deallocated, allowing an attacker to manipulate the freed memory space. This memory corruption can be leveraged to overwrite critical program data structures or inject malicious code into the application's execution context. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it requires only user interaction through opening a malicious file, making it highly exploitable in phishing campaigns and targeted attacks against unsuspecting users.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution, as it enables attackers to gain full control of the user's system with the privileges of the currently logged-in user. This represents a significant escalation from a typical sandboxed application environment, potentially allowing for data theft, system persistence mechanisms, and further network exploration. The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal user interaction, making it particularly effective in social engineering campaigns where users might inadvertently open malicious attachments or click on compromised links that deliver the malicious PDF files. Organizations with widespread Adobe Acrobat Reader usage face substantial risk exposure, as the vulnerability affects versions that were widely deployed across enterprise environments.
Security professionals should implement immediate mitigations including mandatory application updates to the latest versions of Adobe Acrobat Reader, which contain patches addressing the memory management issues. Network-based defenses such as PDF content filtering and sandboxing solutions can provide additional layers of protection while waiting for full deployment of patches. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203 (Exploitation for Client Execution) and CWE-416 (Use After Free) which specifically addresses memory safety issues in software applications. Organizations should also consider implementing user education programs to reduce the likelihood of successful exploitation through social engineering tactics, as well as monitoring for suspicious PDF file access patterns that might indicate attempted exploitation of this vulnerability.