Adobe Acrobat Reader up to 20.005.30418/22.003.20281/22.003.20282 use after free

CVSS Meta Temp Score
CVSS is a standardized scoring system to determine possibilities of attacks. The Temp Score considers temporal factors like disclosure, exploit and countermeasures. The unique Meta Score calculates the average score of different sources to provide a normalized scoring system.
Current Exploit Price (≈)
Our analysts are monitoring exploit markets and are in contact with vulnerability brokers. The range indicates the observed or calculated exploit price to be seen on exploit markets. A good indicator to understand the monetary effort required for and the popularity of an attack.
CTI Interest Score
Our Cyber Threat Intelligence team is monitoring different web sites, mailing lists, exploit markets and social media networks. The CTI Interest Score identifies the interest of attackers and the security community for this specific vulnerability in real-time. A high score indicates an elevated risk to be targeted for this vulnerability.
6.9$0-$5k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability, which was classified as critical, has been found in Adobe Acrobat Reader up to 20.005.30418/22.003.20281/22.003.20282. The affected element is an unknown function. Performing a manipulation results in use after free. This vulnerability is identified as CVE-2023-21608. The attack can be initiated remotely. Additionally, an exploit exists. It is advisable to upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability classified as critical has been found in Adobe Acrobat Reader up to 20.005.30418/22.003.20281/22.003.20282 (Document Reader Software). This affects an unknown functionality. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a use after free vulnerability. CWE is classifying the issue as CWE-416. Referencing memory after it has been freed can cause a program to crash, use unexpected values, or execute code. This is going to have an impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The summary by CVE 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.

The weakness was released 01/19/2023 as apsb23-01. The advisory is shared at helpx.adobe.com. This vulnerability is uniquely identified as CVE-2023-21608 since 12/01/2022. It demands that the victim is doing some kind of user interaction. Technical details are unknown but a public exploit is available.

The exploit is shared for download at github.com. It is declared as attacked. We expect the 0-day to have been worth approximately $5k-$25k. The CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog lists this issue since 10/10/2023 with a due date of 10/31/2023:

Apply mitigations per vendor instructions or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable.

Upgrading eliminates this vulnerability.

Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.

Productinfo

Type

Vendor

Name

Version

License

Website

CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

Video

Open Video | Show More Videos

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 7.0
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 6.9

VulDB Base Score: 6.3
VulDB Temp Score: 6.0
VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CNA Base Score: 7.8
CNA Vector (Adobe Systems Incorporated): 🔍

CVSSv2info

AVACAuCIA
💳💳💳💳💳💳
💳💳💳💳💳💳
💳💳💳💳💳💳
VectorComplexityAuthenticationConfidentialityIntegrityAvailability
UnlockUnlockUnlockUnlockUnlockUnlock
UnlockUnlockUnlockUnlockUnlockUnlock
UnlockUnlockUnlockUnlockUnlockUnlock

VulDB Base Score: 🔍
VulDB Temp Score: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

Exploitinginfo

Class: Use after free
CWE: CWE-416 / CWE-119
CAPEC: 🔍
ATT&CK: 🔍

Physical: Partially
Local: Yes
Remote: Yes

Availability: 🔍
Access: Public
Status: Attacked
Download: 🔍

EPSS Score: 🔍
EPSS Percentile: 🔍

KEV Added: 🔍
KEV Due: 🔍
KEV Remediation: 🔍
KEV Ransomware: 🔍
KEV Notice: 🔍

Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔍

0-DayUnlockUnlockUnlockUnlock
TodayUnlockUnlockUnlockUnlock

Threat Intelligenceinfo

Interest: 🔍
Active Actors: 🔍
Active APT Groups: 🔍

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔍

Timelineinfo

12/01/2022 🔍
01/19/2023 +49 days 🔍
01/19/2023 +0 days 🔍
04/28/2025 +830 days 🔍

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: adobe.com

Advisory: apsb23-01
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2023-21608 (🔍)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2023-21608
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-218961
scip Labs: https://www.scip.ch/en/?labs.20161013

Entryinfo

Created: 01/19/2023 09:01
Updated: 04/28/2025 04:51
Changes: 01/19/2023 09:01 (49), 03/24/2024 20:56 (23), 04/29/2024 15:07 (16), 09/29/2024 04:24 (2), 02/14/2025 02:04 (1), 04/28/2025 04:51 (3)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.

Discussion

 b00psb00ps (+1)
2 years ago
PoC publicly available: https://github.com/hacksysteam/CVE-2023-21608

◂ PreviousOverviewNext ▸

Want to stay up to date on a daily basis?

Enable the mail alert feature now!