# CVE-2019-16451: Memory corruption in Adobe Acrobat and Reader

> Heap overflow in Adobe Acrobat and Reader allows arbitrary code execution, requiring users to apply vendor patches.

- **Severity:** Critical 9.8 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 19 Dec 2019
- **Updated:** 5 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-5x82-564r-8m4g

## What is CVE-2019-16451?

CVE-2019-16451 is a critical memory corruption vulnerability in Adobe Acrobat Dc, published on 19 Dec 2019. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

Adobe Acrobat and Reader versions , 2019.021.20056 and earlier, 2017.011.30152 and earlier, 2017.011.30155 and earlier version, 2017.011.30152 and earlier, and 2015.006.30505 and earlier have a heap overflow vulnerability. Successful exploitation could lead to arbitrary code execution .

Weakness: CWE-787 (Out-of-bounds Write)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2019-16451?

It affects 2 products.


Products: Adobe Acrobat Dc, Adobe Acrobat Reader Dc.

## How do I fix CVE-2019-16451?

No fix has been published for CVE-2019-16451 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2019-16451 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2019-16451 exists.

Public exploit code:

- Adobe Acrobat Reader DC - Heap-Based Memory Corruption due to Malformed TTF Font (exploitdb)

## Other vulnerabilities in Adobe Acrobat Dc

- [CVE-2018-4990](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-4990/): Adobe Acrobat and Reader Double Free (high 8.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2020-9715](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-9715/): Adobe Acrobat Use-After-Free (high 7.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2020-3792](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-3792/): Use after free in Adobe Acrobat and Reader (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2020-3793](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-3793/): Use after free in Adobe Acrobat and Reader (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2020-3795](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-3795/): Memory corruption in Adobe Acrobat and Reader (critical 9.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2019-16451 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2019-16451 is a critical memory corruption vulnerability in Adobe Acrobat Dc, published on 19 Dec 2019. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2019-16451 exists.

Affected product: Adobe Acrobat Dc. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-16451/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-16451/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2019-16451
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2019-16451
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2019-16451

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-16451/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.