CVE-2021-28553 : Security Advisory and Response

Adobe Acrobat Reader DC versions versions 2021.001.20150 (and earlier), 2020.001.30020 (and earlier), and 2017.011.30194 (and earlier) are affected by an Use After Free vulnerability, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution.

Understanding CVE-2021-28553

This CVE involves an Use After Free vulnerability in Adobe Acrobat Reader, allowing an unauthenticated attacker to execute arbitrary code.

What is CVE-2021-28553?

It is a Use After Free vulnerability impacting Adobe Acrobat Reader DC versions, potentially enabling unauthorized code execution in the context of the current user.

The Impact of CVE-2021-28553

The vulnerability poses a high-risk threat with a CVSS base score of 8.8 (High), affecting confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the system.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-28553

This section explains the vulnerability details, affected systems, and the exploitation mechanism.

Vulnerability Description

CVE-2021-28553 involves an Use After Free flaw in Adobe Acrobat Reader, allowing attackers to execute arbitrary code by exploiting a specific vulnerability.

Affected Systems and Versions

Adobe Acrobat Reader DC versions 2021.001.20150, 2020.001.30020, and 2017.011.30194 (and earlier) are confirmed to be vulnerable to this exploit.

Exploitation Mechanism

To exploit this vulnerability, an attacker would need to trick a user into opening a malicious file, as user interaction is required for successful exploitation.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protect your systems from CVE-2021-28553 with immediate steps and long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update Adobe Acrobat Reader to the latest version immediately.
Exercise caution while opening files from untrusted sources.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement robust security protocols and regularly update software.
Educate users about potential threats and safe file-handling practices.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security updates from Adobe and apply patches promptly to mitigate the risk of exploitation.