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Exploited vulnerability · CISA KEV

Is CVE-2023-21608 exploited? Yes: in CISA KEV since 10 Oct 2023

Gociux · Adobe Acrobat and Reader · data: CISA KEV, CVE record, FIRST EPSS

Yes. CVE-2023-21608, Adobe Acrobat and Reader Use-After-Free Vulnerability, is being exploited in the wild. CISA added it to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on 10 Oct 2023, 265 days after it was published. It affects Adobe Acrobat and Reader. If you run it, CISA's required action is: Apply mitigations per vendor instructions or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable.

exploitedYesCISA KEV · 10 Oct 2023
ransomwareNot knownno confirmed use
EPSStop 1%among the most likely CVEs to be exploited
severity7.8CVSS 3.1 · high
US federal due31 Oct 2023BOD 22-01 deadline

What it is

Adobe Acrobat and Reader contains a use-after-free vulnerability that allows for code execution in the context of the current user.

VendorAdobe (83 exploited CVEs in KEV)
ProductAcrobat and Reader
VulnerabilityAdobe Acrobat and Reader Use-After-Free Vulnerability
WeaknessCWE-416
Published18 Jan 2023
Added to KEV10 Oct 2023
Reported by (CNA)adobe

What to do

  1. Check whether you run it. Look for Acrobat and Reader in your asset inventory, including appliances and cloud images. Stack check lists every exploited Adobe CVE at once.
  2. Apply the fix. Apply mitigations per vendor instructions or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable.
  3. If you can't patch today, take the affected service off the internet or restrict who can reach it, and check its logs for signs of compromise since 18 Jan 2023.
  4. Get told next time. Email alerts when CISA adds a CVE for Adobe.

Other exploited CVEs in Acrobat and Reader

References

Questions

Is CVE-2023-21608 being exploited?

Yes. CISA added CVE-2023-21608 to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on 10 Oct 2023, which means there is reliable evidence of exploitation in the wild.

Is CVE-2023-21608 used in ransomware attacks?

CISA does not list known ransomware use for it. That can change, and exploitation alone is reason to fix it first.

How do I fix CVE-2023-21608?

Apply mitigations per vendor instructions or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable. Check Adobe's advisory for the fixed versions, and if you can't patch quickly, restrict access to the affected Acrobat and Reader and watch it for signs of compromise.

Sources: CISA KEV (exploitation, ransomware use, required action, due date), the CVE record (publication date, CVSS, CNA), NVD and FIRST EPSS (live score). More: all KEV additions in October 2023 · Adobe scorecard · act-now radar.

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