CVE-2021-44701 Adobe Acrobat Reader DC AcroForm Use-After-Free Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

High 7.8 Published Updated

Attackers can execute arbitrary code by tricking users into opening malicious files in Adobe Acrobat Reader due to a use-after-free flaw.

Exploited in the wild
Not known
Login needed
Not needed
Attackable
Local or same network only
Victim action needed
A user has to click or open something
Fix
None listed

What is CVE-2021-44701?

CVE-2021-44701 is a high-severity use after free vulnerability in Adobe Acrobat, published on 14 Jan 2022. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.

Official description

Acrobat Reader DC version 21.007.20099 (and earlier), 20.004.30017 (and earlier) and 17.011.30204 (and earlier) are affected by a use-after-free vulnerability in the processing of Format event actions 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.

Weakness: CWE-416

Which versions are affected by CVE-2021-44701?

It affects 4 products.

Products include Adobe Acrobat, Adobe Acrobat Dc, Adobe Acrobat Reader, Adobe Acrobat Reader Dc.

How do I fix CVE-2021-44701?

No fix has been published for CVE-2021-44701 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

Upgrade to the fixed version. These bugs are found with fuzzing and sanitisers and avoided by memory-safe languages. More about Use after free.

Is CVE-2021-44701 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-44701 in the wild and no public exploit code.

All Adobe Acrobat vulnerabilities

Sources

Also known as GHSA-xjcm-w8fw-q3jw.

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