← Vulnerability feed

Vulnerability record · CVE-2017-16368 · published 9 December 2017

CVE-2017-16368: Adobe acrobat memory buffer overflow vulnerability

Adobe · Acrobat

An issue was discovered in Adobe Acrobat and Reader: 2017.012.20098 and earlier versions, 2017.011.30066 and earlier versions, 2015.006.30355 and earlier versions, and 11.0.22 and earlier versions. This vulnerability leads to a stack-based buffer overflow condition in the internal Unicode string manipulation module. It is triggered by an invalid PDF file, where a crafted Unicode string causes an out of bounds memory access of a stack allocated buffer, due to improper checks when manipulating an offset of a pointer to the buffer. Attackers can exploit the vulnerability and achieve arbitrary code execution if they can effectively control the accessible memory.

8.8 CVSS 3.1 High EPSS 13% · top 3.7% CWE-119 · Memory buffer overflow
8.8CVSS 3.1 base score, v2 9.3
13%EPSS exploitation probability, 30 days
NoNot in CISA KEV
4Affected product versions listed by NVD
6References
17 Jun 2026Last modified by NVD

Description

An issue was discovered in Adobe Acrobat and Reader: 2017.012.20098 and earlier versions, 2017.011.30066 and earlier versions, 2015.006.30355 and earlier versions, and 11.0.22 and earlier versions. This vulnerability leads to a stack-based buffer overflow condition in the internal Unicode string manipulation module. It is triggered by an invalid PDF file, where a crafted Unicode string causes an out of bounds memory access of a stack allocated buffer, due to improper checks when manipulating an offset of a pointer to the buffer. Attackers can exploit the vulnerability and achieve arbitrary code execution if they can effectively control the accessible memory.

CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Affected products

4 vulnerable configurations from NVD's CPE data, grouped by vendor and product.

References

LinkTags
http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/101816 Third Party AdvisoryVDB Entry
http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1039791 Third Party AdvisoryVDB Entry
https://helpx.adobe.com/security/products/acrobat/apsb17-36.html Vendor Advisory
http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/101816 Third Party AdvisoryVDB Entry
http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1039791 Third Party AdvisoryVDB Entry
https://helpx.adobe.com/security/products/acrobat/apsb17-36.html Vendor Advisory

Track CVE-2017-16368 inside VULONE

Watch it alongside the ransomware crews, C2 infrastructure and forum chatter that reference it, query it through the API and pull it into your SIEM over TAXII.

Start free Open in platform

Related vulnerabilities

Same products first, then exploited flaws of the same weakness class.

9.8CVE-2014-0546Adobe Reader and Acrobat sandbox bypass allows privileged code executionAdobe Reader and Acrobat 10.x before 10.1.11 and 11.x before 11.0.08 on Windows contain a sandbox protection bypass. An attacker can escape the Reade…KEVEPSS 22%analysed9.8CVE-2013-3346Adobe Reader and Acrobat memory corruption allows code executionAdobe Reader and Acrobat 9.x before 9.5.5, 10.x before 10.1.7, and 11.x before 11.0.03 contain an out-of-bounds write (CWE-787) that corrupts memory.…KEVEPSS 79%analysed9.8CVE-2013-2729Adobe Reader and Acrobat integer overflow allows code executionAdobe Reader and Acrobat contain an integer overflow (CWE-190) that can be triggered by unspecified vectors, leading to arbitrary code execution. It …KEVEPSS 67%analysed9.8CVE-2011-2462Adobe Reader and Acrobat U3D memory corruption code executionAn out-of-bounds write in the U3D component of Adobe Reader and Acrobat allows remote attackers to corrupt memory and execute arbitrary code. The fla…KEVEPSS 89%analysed8.8CVE-2021-28550Adobe Acrobat and Reader use-after-free allows code executionAdobe Acrobat Reader DC (2021.001.20150, 2020.001.30020, 2017.011.30194 and earlier) and related Acrobat products contain a use-after-free (CWE-416) …KEVEPSS 52%analysed8.8CVE-2021-21017Adobe Acrobat and Reader heap buffer overflow via malicious fileAdobe Acrobat Reader DC (2020.013.20074, 2020.001.30018, 2017.011.30188 and earlier) contains a heap-based buffer overflow (CWE-122/CWE-787) triggere…KEVEPSS 86%analysed8.8CVE-2018-4990Adobe Acrobat and Reader double free allows code executionAdobe Acrobat and Reader contain a double free (CWE-415) in versions 2018.011.20038 and earlier, 2017.011.30079 and earlier, and 2015.006.30417 and e…KEVEPSS 36%analysed8.8CVE-2014-0496Adobe Reader and Acrobat use-after-free code executionAdobe Reader and Acrobat 10.x before 10.1.9 and 11.x before 11.0.06 on Windows and Mac OS X contain a use-after-free (CWE-416) that allows arbitrary …KEVEPSS 40%analysed

Source: NIST National Vulnerability Database (record CVE-2017-16368), CISA KEV, FIRST EPSS (scores of 2026-09-26). This page is refreshed as NVD updates the record.