CVE-2021-44740 : What You Need to Know

Adobe Acrobat Pro DC is affected by a Null pointer dereference vulnerability leading to application denial-of-service.

Understanding CVE-2021-44740

What is CVE-2021-44740?

Adobe Acrobat Reader versions 21.007.20099, 20.004.30017, and 17.011.30204 are impacted by a Null pointer dereference flaw. An unauthenticated attacker can exploit this vulnerability to cause an application denial-of-service.

The Impact of CVE-2021-44740

The vulnerability allows an attacker to execute a denial-of-service attack in the context of the current user by tricking them into opening a malicious file.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-44740

Vulnerability Description

The issue stems from a Null pointer dereference vulnerability present in Adobe Acrobat Reader when handling a specially crafted file.

Affected Systems and Versions

Adobe Acrobat Reader DC version 21.007.20099 (and earlier)
Adobe Acrobat Reader DC version 20.004.30017 (and earlier)
Adobe Acrobat Reader DC version 17.011.30204 (and earlier)
No specified version

Exploitation Mechanism

To exploit this vulnerability, user interaction is required. The victim must open a malicious file for the attacker to achieve a denial-of-service.

Mitigation and Prevention

Immediate Steps to Take

Update Adobe Acrobat Reader to the latest version
Avoid opening files from untrusted sources

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update software and security patches
Educate users on safe browsing habits

Patching and Updates

Apply patches and updates provided by Adobe to address this vulnerability.