# CVE-2023-21608: Adobe Acrobat and Reader Use-After-Free Vulnerability

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2023-21608-adobe-acrobat-and-reader-use-after-free-vulnerability  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2023-10-10. Updated: 2026-05-09  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2023-21608 · Severity: critical · CVSS 7.8 · Exploited in the wild · Published 2023-10-10

Adobe Acrobat and Reader are affected by a use-after-free vulnerability that can lead to arbitrary code execution in the context of the current user. Exploitation requires a victim to open a specially crafted malicious file.

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-2023-21608 exploited in the wild?** Yes. CVE-2023-21608 is known to be exploited in the wild, first recorded on 10 October 2023. Treat it as urgent.

**How severe is CVE-2023-21608?** Critical severity, with a CVSS score of 7.8, published 10 October 2023.

**Which products and versions are affected?** Adobe Acrobat Reader 22.003.20282 (and earlier), 22.003.20281 (and earlier), 20.005.30418 (and earlier); Adobe Acrobat DC 15.008.20082 up to 22.003.20282; Adobe Acrobat Reader DC 15.008.20082 up to 22.003.20282.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2023-21608?** 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-2023-21608 attacked?** It is attacked with local access, in a network appliance.

**Am I affected by CVE-2023-21608?** 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 Reader 22.003.20282 (and earlier), 22.003.20281 (and earlier), 20.005.30418 (and earlier)
- Adobe Acrobat DC 15.008.20082 up to 22.003.20282
- Adobe Acrobat Reader DC 15.008.20082 up to 22.003.20282

## Timeline

- 2023-01-18: disclosed: NVD Published Date
- 2023-10-10: kev added: Added to CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog
- 2023-10-10: exploited: Reported as exploited in the wild

## 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)