CVE-2026-81973: Adobe Acrobat Reader use-after-free vulnerability

CVE-2026-81973 · Severity: high · CVSS 7.8 · Published 2026-09-08

Adobe Acrobat Reader contains a use-after-free vulnerability that could allow arbitrary code execution when a user opens a malicious PDF file. An attacker can exploit this flaw to run malicious code with the privileges of the affected user, potentially compromising sensitive documents, stealing data, or installing malware on systems relying on Acrobat Reader for document processing.

Technologies: Adobe Acrobat, Adobe Acrobat Reader, Adobe Acrobat Dc, Adobe Acrobat Reader Dc, Apple macOS, Microsoft Windows. Vendors: Adobe, Apple, Microsoft.

Quick answers

Is CVE-2026-81973 exploited in the wild?
No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-81973 being exploited in the wild.
How severe is CVE-2026-81973?
High severity, with a CVSS score of 7.8, published 8 September 2026.
Which products and versions are affected?
Adobe Acrobat Reader <UNKNOWN>.
Is there a fix for CVE-2026-81973?
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-2026-81973 attacked?
It is attacked with local access, in a software library.
Am I affected by CVE-2026-81973?
Check whether you run Adobe Acrobat, Adobe Acrobat Reader, Adobe Acrobat Dc or one of the others listed at an affected version. 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.

Technical details

This is a use-after-free vulnerability in Adobe Acrobat Reader's memory handling logic. The vulnerability occurs when the application attempts to access or manipulate memory that has already been freed, allowing an attacker to corrupt memory state and achieve arbitrary code execution. Exploitation requires user interaction—specifically, the victim must open a specially crafted malicious PDF file. The attack vector is local, requiring no network connectivity or elevated privileges prior to exploitation. No patch availability information is publicly available at this time.

Affected products

  • Adobe Acrobat Reader <UNKNOWN>

Timeline

  • 2026-09-08: disclosed

References

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