CVE-2021-44711 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

Adobe Acrobat Reader DC annotation gestures integer overflow vulnerability discovered on January 11, 2022, poses a high-severity risk of arbitrary code execution.

Understanding CVE-2021-44711

Acrobat Reader DC versions 21.007.20099, 20.004.30017, and 17.011.30204 are impacted by an Integer Overflow or Wraparound vulnerability, allowing potential code execution.

What is CVE-2021-44711?

The vulnerability entails an Integer Overflow or Wraparound flaw in Acrobat Reader DC versions, potentially leading to an attacker executing arbitrary code through precise user interaction.

The Impact of CVE-2021-44711

With a CVSS base score of 7.8, this high-severity vulnerability could result in arbitrary code execution in a user's context, demanding user interaction through opening a malicious file.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-44711

The vulnerability in Adobe Acrobat Reader DC involves:

Vulnerability Description

Integer Overflow or Wraparound flaw exposing systems to arbitrary code execution.

Affected Systems and Versions

Adobe Acrobat Reader versions 21.007.20099, 20.004.30017, and 17.011.30204

Exploitation Mechanism

Requires user interaction for opening a malicious file.

Mitigation and Prevention

Immediate Steps to Take:

Update Acrobat Reader to the latest version.
Exercise caution when opening files, especially from untrusted sources. Long-Term Security Practices:
Regularly update software and security patches.
Implement security awareness training for users.
Consider endpoint protection solutions.
Employ network segmentation.
Practice the principle of least privilege.
Monitor and analyze system logs.

Patching and Updates

Apply the latest security updates provided by Adobe to mitigate this vulnerability.