# CVE-2018-4990: Adobe Acrobat and Reader Double Free Vulnerability

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2018-4990-adobe-acrobat-and-reader-double-free-vulnerability  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2022-06-08. Updated: 2026-05-10  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2018-4990 · Severity: critical · CVSS 8.8 · Exploited in the wild · Published 2022-06-08

Adobe Acrobat and Reader are affected by a double free vulnerability when processing specially crafted PDF content. Successful exploitation allows an attacker to execute arbitrary code in the context of the current user.

Technologies: [Adobe Acrobat](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/acrobat), [Adobe AIR](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/air), [Adobe Flash Player](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/flash-player), [Adobe Reader](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/reader). Vendors: [Adobe](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/adobe).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2018-4990 exploited in the wild?** Yes. CVE-2018-4990 is known to be exploited in the wild, first recorded on 8 June 2022. Treat it as urgent.

**How severe is CVE-2018-4990?** Critical severity, with a CVSS score of 8.8, published 8 June 2022.

**Which products and versions are affected?** Adobe Acrobat DC / Acrobat Reader DC (Continuous) 2018.011.20038 and earlier; Adobe Acrobat 2017 / Acrobat Reader 2017 (Classic) 2017.011.30079 and earlier; Adobe Acrobat DC / Acrobat Reader DC (Classic) 2015.006.30417 and earlier.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2018-4990?** No fixed version is recorded yet. Check the vendor's advisory in the references below. If you run it, Junglewise drafts a mitigation that fits your setup and applies it once you approve, with senior security engineers behind it.

**How is CVE-2018-4990 attacked?** It is attacked over the network, in a network appliance.

**Am I affected by CVE-2018-4990?** Check whether you run Adobe Acrobat, Adobe AIR, Adobe Flash Player or one of the others listed. Junglewise does that check for you around the clock: connect your code, cloud and domains, and it matches new vulnerabilities like this one against what you actually run and tells you when one reaches you.

## Affected products

- Adobe Acrobat DC / Acrobat Reader DC (Continuous) 2018.011.20038 and earlier
- Adobe Acrobat 2017 / Acrobat Reader 2017 (Classic) 2017.011.30079 and earlier
- Adobe Acrobat DC / Acrobat Reader DC (Classic) 2015.006.30417 and earlier

## Timeline

- 2018-05-14: disclosed: Vendor advisory published by Adobe (APSB18-09)
- 2022-06-08: kev added: Added to CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog
- 2022-06-08: exploited: Confirmed as exploited in the wild per CISA KEV catalog entry.

## Related threats

- [Adobe Acrobat Reader denial-of-service via uncontrolled resource consumption](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-82001-adobe-acrobat-reader-denial-of-service-via-uncontrolled-resource)
- [Adobe Acrobat Reader privilege escalation via incorrect authorization](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-81996-adobe-acrobat-reader-privilege-escalation-via-incorrect)
- [Adobe Acrobat Reader prototype pollution arbitrary file read](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-81994-adobe-acrobat-reader-prototype-pollution-arbitrary-file-read)
- [Adobe Acrobat Reader heap buffer overflow in PDF parsing](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-81993-adobe-acrobat-reader-heap-buffer-overflow-in-pdf-parsing)
- [Adobe Acrobat Reader heap-based buffer overflow](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-81992-adobe-acrobat-reader-heap-based-buffer-overflow)