CVE-2021-21046 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

Adobe Acrobat Reader DC versions 2020.013.20074 and earlier, 2020.001.30018 and earlier, and 2017.011.30188 and earlier are affected by a memory corruption vulnerability. An unauthenticated attacker could exploit this vulnerability to cause an application denial-of-service by tricking a user into opening a malicious file.

Understanding CVE-2021-21046

This vulnerability affects Adobe Acrobat Reader DC versions and allows attackers to execute arbitrary code, posing a significant threat to user security.

What is CVE-2021-21046?

The CVE-2021-21046 vulnerability is a memory corruption issue in Adobe Acrobat Reader DC that could be exploited by an unauthenticated attacker to disrupt application functionality through a denial-of-service attack.

The Impact of CVE-2021-21046

The impact of this vulnerability is rated as medium severity, allowing the attacker to execute arbitrary code and potentially compromise the system's integrity.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-21046

This section provides detailed technical information about the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability is classified as an Out-of-bounds Write (CWE-787) issue, which allows attackers to overwrite memory locations outside the allocated buffer, leading to arbitrary code execution.

Affected Systems and Versions

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

Exploitation Mechanism

To exploit this vulnerability, an unauthenticated attacker needs to trick a user into opening a specially crafted malicious file, triggering the memory corruption flaw.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2021-21046 involves immediate actions and long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Users should update Adobe Acrobat Reader DC to the latest version to patch the vulnerability and exercise caution when opening files from untrusted sources.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update software, use security tools like antivirus programs, and educate users about potential threats to enhance overall security posture.

Patching and Updates

Adobe has released a security update to address this vulnerability. Users are advised to apply the patch promptly to mitigate the risk of exploitation.