# CVE-2026-81984: Adobe Acrobat Reader use after free in memory handling

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-81984-adobe-acrobat-reader-use-after-free-in-memory-handling  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2026-09-08. Updated: 2026-09-26  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2026-81984 · Severity: medium · CVSS 5.5 · Published 2026-09-08

Adobe Acrobat Reader is widely used for viewing and managing PDF documents in enterprises and by consumers. A use-after-free vulnerability in the application's memory handling could allow an attacker to read sensitive data from the application's memory, such as passwords or documents, if a user opens a malicious PDF file.

Technologies: [Adobe Acrobat](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/acrobat), [Adobe Acrobat Reader](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/acrobat-reader), [Adobe Acrobat Dc](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/acrobat-dc), [Adobe Acrobat Reader Dc](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/acrobat-reader-dc), [Apple macOS](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/macos), [Microsoft Windows](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/windows). Vendors: [Adobe](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/adobe), [Apple](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/apple), [Microsoft](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/microsoft).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2026-81984 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-81984 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2026-81984?** Medium severity, with a CVSS score of 5.5, published 8 September 2026.

**Which products and versions are affected?** Adobe Acrobat Reader <UNKNOWN>.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2026-81984?** 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-2026-81984 attacked?** It is attacked over the network.

**Am I affected by CVE-2026-81984?** 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 vulnerability is a use-after-free (CWE-416) defect in Adobe Acrobat Reader's memory management that could allow disclosure of sensitive information from the affected process memory. The attack requires user interaction—specifically, a victim must open a specially crafted malicious PDF file to trigger the vulnerability. An attacker can exploit this flaw to leak sensitive data residing in memory at the time of exploitation. The vulnerability has been assigned CVE-2026-81984 with a CVSS score of 5.5 (medium severity). No evidence of active exploitation in the wild has been reported, and patches are expected from Adobe.

## Affected products

- Adobe Acrobat Reader <UNKNOWN>

## Timeline

- 2026-09-08: disclosed

## References

- [https://helpx.adobe.com/security/products/acrobat/apsb26-141.html](https://helpx.adobe.com/security/products/acrobat/apsb26-141.html)

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