CVE-2021-35984 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies

Adobe Acrobat Pro DC PDFLibTool has been identified as vulnerable to a Null Pointer Dereference Bug. This CVE was made public on July 13, 2021.

Understanding CVE-2021-35984

This section will delve into the details of the CVE-2021-35984 vulnerability.

What is CVE-2021-35984?

Acrobat Reader DC versions 2021.005.20054 (and earlier), 2020.004.30005 (and earlier), and 2017.011.30197 (and earlier) are affected by a Null pointer dereference vulnerability. An authenticated attacker could leverage this vulnerability to achieve an application denial-of-service in the context of the current user. Exploitation of this issue does not require user interaction.

The Impact of CVE-2021-35984

The CVSS v3.1 base score for this vulnerability is 5.5, categorizing it as having a MEDIUM severity level. The attack complexity is considered LOW, but the availability impact is HIGH. The confidentiality and integrity impacts are none, with LOW privileges required and no user interaction necessary. The vulnerability affects Adobe's Acrobat Reader products.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-35984

Let's explore the technical aspects of CVE-2021-35984.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability in Adobe Acrobat Reader allows an authenticated attacker to exploit a Null Pointer Dereference bug, leading to a denial-of-service condition within the application.

Affected Systems and Versions

Acrobat Reader versions 2021.005.20054, 2020.004.30005, and 2017.011.30197 are confirmed to be vulnerable to this issue.

Exploitation Mechanism

By leveraging the Null Pointer Dereference vulnerability, an authenticated attacker can trigger the application denial-of-service without requiring any user interaction.

Mitigation and Prevention

Learn how to protect your systems from CVE-2021-35984.

Immediate Steps to Take

Users are advised to update their Adobe Acrobat Reader to the latest version to mitigate the CVE-2021-35984 vulnerability. Additionally, apply relevant security patches provided by Adobe.

Long-Term Security Practices

Incorporate regular software updates and security patches as part of your cybersecurity practices to avoid potential vulnerabilities. Stay informed about security advisories related to Adobe products.

Patching and Updates

Ensure timely installation of software updates and patches released by Adobe to address known security vulnerabilities.