Security Alert (A21-10-12): Multiple Vulnerabilities in Adobe Reader/Acrobat

Description:

Security updates are released for Adobe Reader and Acrobat to address multiple vulnerabilities.  A remote attacker would entice a targeted user to open a specially crafted PDF file to exploit the vulnerabilities.

Affected Systems:

• Acrobat DC for Windows Continuous 21.007.20095 and earlier versions
• Acrobat Reader DC for Windows Continuous 21.007.20095 and earlier versions
• Acrobat DC for macOS Continuous 21.007.20096 and earlier versions
• Acrobat Reader DC for macOS Continuous 21.007.20096 and earlier versions
• Acrobat 2020 for Windows and macOS Classic 2020 20.004.30015 and earlier version
• Acrobat Reader 2020 for Windows and macOS Classic 2020 20.004.30015 and earlier version
• Acrobat 2017 for Windows and macOS Classic 2017 17.011.30202 and earlier versions
• Acrobat Reader 2017 for Windows and macOS Classic 2017 17.011.30202 and earlier versions

Impact:

A successful exploitation could lead to arbitrary code execution or privilege escalation on an affected system.

Recommendation:

Users of affected systems should update the Adobe Reader and Acrobat to the following versions to address the issues. The updates can be obtained by using the auto-update mechanism or by downloading at the following URLs:

• Acrobat DC for Windows and macOS Continuous 21.007.20099
https://www.adobe.com/devnet-docs/acrobatetk/tools/ReleaseNotesDC/index.html#continuous-track
• Acrobat Reader DC for Windows and macOS Continuous 21.007.20099
https://www.adobe.com/devnet-docs/acrobatetk/tools/ReleaseNotesDC/index.html#continuous-track
• Acrobat 2020 for Windows and macOS Classic 2020 20.004.30017
https://www.adobe.com/devnet-docs/acrobatetk/tools/ReleaseNotesDC/index.html#classic-track
• Acrobat Reader 2020 for Windows and macOS Classic 2020 20.004.30017
https://www.adobe.com/devnet-docs/acrobatetk/tools/ReleaseNotesDC/index.html#classic-track
• Acrobat 2017 for Windows and macOS Classic 2017 17.011.30204
https://www.adobe.com/devnet-docs/acrobatetk/tools/ReleaseNotesDC/index.html#id3
• Acrobat Reader 2017 for Windows and macOS Classic 2017 17.011.30204
https://www.adobe.com/devnet-docs/acrobatetk/tools/ReleaseNotesDC/index.html#id3

More Information:

• https://helpx.adobe.com/security/products/acrobat/apsb21-104.html
• https://www.hkcert.org/security-bulletin/adobe-monthly-security-update-october-2021
• https://us-cert.cisa.gov/ncas/current-activity/2021/10/12/adobe-releases-security-updates-multiple-products
• https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2021-40728 (to CVE-2021-40731)