CVE-2019-7821 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

A use after free vulnerability has been identified in earlier versions of Adobe Acrobat and Reader, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution.

Understanding CVE-2019-7821

What is CVE-2019-7821?

CVE-2019-7821 is a use after free vulnerability found in Adobe Acrobat and Reader versions 2019.010.20100 and earlier, 2019.010.20099 and earlier, 2017.011.30140 and earlier, 2017.011.30138 and earlier, 2015.006.30495 and earlier, and 2015.006.30493 and earlier.

The Impact of CVE-2019-7821

If successfully exploited, this vulnerability could result in arbitrary code execution.

Technical Details of CVE-2019-7821

Vulnerability Description

A use after free vulnerability in Adobe Acrobat and Reader versions could allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code.

Affected Systems and Versions

Adobe Acrobat and Reader versions 2019.010.20100 and earlier
Adobe Acrobat and Reader versions 2019.010.20099 and earlier
Adobe Acrobat and Reader versions 2017.011.30140 and earlier
Adobe Acrobat and Reader versions 2017.011.30138 and earlier
Adobe Acrobat and Reader versions 2015.006.30495 and earlier
Adobe Acrobat and Reader versions 2015.006.30493 and earlier

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability could be exploited through crafted PDF files or malicious websites.

Mitigation and Prevention

Immediate Steps to Take

Update Adobe Acrobat and Reader to the latest version
Be cautious when opening PDF files from untrusted sources

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update software and applications
Implement security best practices to prevent code execution vulnerabilities

Patching and Updates

Apply security patches provided by Adobe to address the vulnerability.