CVE-2021-21042 : Vulnerability Insights and Analysis

Acrobat Reader DC versions 2020.013.20074 (and earlier), 2020.001.30018 (and earlier), and 2017.011.30188 (and earlier) are affected by an Out-of-bounds Read vulnerability that could lead to arbitrary disclosure of information in the memory stack. This vulnerability allows an attacker to bypass mitigations like ASLR, requiring user interaction by opening a malicious file.

Understanding CVE-2021-21042

This section provides insights into the impact and technical details of the vulnerability.

What is CVE-2021-21042?

CVE-2021-21042 is an Out-of-bounds Read vulnerability affecting Adobe's Acrobat Reader DC versions. It enables attackers to access sensitive information in the memory stack.

The Impact of CVE-2021-21042

The vulnerability poses a medium-severity risk with a CVSS base score of 6.5. It has a high impact on confidentiality, requiring user interaction for exploitation.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-21042

Let's dive into the specifics of the vulnerability to understand its implications better.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability allows attackers to read beyond the bounds of allocated memory, potentially leading to the exposure of sensitive information.

Affected Systems and Versions

Acrobat Reader DC versions 2020.013.20074, 2020.001.30018, and 2017.011.30188 are confirmed to be affected by this vulnerability.

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by tricking users into opening a specially crafted malicious file.

Mitigation and Prevention

To safeguard systems from CVE-2021-21042, immediate and long-term security measures are essential.

Immediate Steps to Take

Users are advised to update their Acrobat Reader to the latest version and refrain from opening unknown or suspicious files.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update software, employ robust security solutions, and educate users on safe browsing practices to mitigate potential risks.

Patching and Updates

Adobe has released security updates addressing CVE-2021-21042. Users should promptly apply these patches to secure their systems.