CVE-2026-79909

Analyzed Analyzed - Analysis Complete

Use After Free in Adobe Acrobat Reader Leading to Arbitrary Code Execution

Publication date: 2026-09-08

Last updated on: 2026-09-10

Assigner: Adobe Systems Incorporated

Description

Acrobat Reader is affected by a Use After Free vulnerability that could result in arbitrary code execution in the context of the current user. Exploitation of this issue requires user interaction in that a victim must open a malicious file.

CVSS Scores

EPSS Scores

Probability:
Percentile:

Meta Information

Published

2026-09-08

Last Modified

2026-09-10

Generated

2026-09-29

AI Q&A

2026-09-10

EPSS Evaluated

2026-09-27

NVD

CVE-2026-79909

Affected Vendors & Products

Vendor	Product	Version / Range
adobe	acrobat_dc	From 15.008.20082 (inc) to 26.002.21901 (exc)
adobe	acrobat_reader_dc	From 15.008.20082 (inc) to 26.002.21901 (exc)
adobe	acrobat	From 24.001.20604 (inc) to 24.001.30429 (exc)

Helpful Resources

Exploitability

CWE

KEV

CWE ID	Description
CWE-416	The product reuses or references memory after it has been freed. At some point afterward, the memory may be allocated again and saved in another pointer, while the original pointer references a location somewhere within the new allocation. Any operations using the original pointer are no longer valid because the memory "belongs" to the code that operates on the new pointer.

Attack-Flow Graph

Executive Summary

This is a Use After Free vulnerability in Acrobat Reader that could allow arbitrary code execution. It requires user interaction, meaning a victim must open a malicious file to trigger the issue.

Detection Guidance

Detecting this vulnerability requires monitoring for suspicious PDF files or unusual Acrobat Reader behavior. Check for recently opened PDFs from untrusted sources. Use system logs to identify crashes or unexpected processes after opening PDFs. No specific commands are provided in the context.

Impact Analysis

If exploited, this vulnerability could allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code on your system with the same privileges as the current user. This could lead to data theft, system compromise, or further malware installation.

Compliance Impact

This vulnerability could lead to unauthorized access or data breaches, which may violate GDPR or HIPAA requirements for data protection and security. Organizations must address it to maintain compliance.

Mitigation Strategies

Immediately update Acrobat Reader to the latest version. Avoid opening PDF files from unknown or untrusted sources. Disable PDF opening in web browsers if possible. Monitor Adobe security advisories for patches.

Hi! I’m here to help you understand CVE-2026-79909. Ask me anything about the vulnerability, its impact, or mitigation strategies.

0/70