CVE-2018-4990
Adobe Acrobat and Reader Double Free Vulnerability
Adobe Acrobat and Reader
Adobe Acrobat and Reader versions 2018.011.20038 and earlier, 2017.011.30079 and earlier, and 2015.006.30417 and earlier have a Double Free vulnerability. Successful exploitation could lead to arbitrary code execution in the context of the current user.
Exploitation status
CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities
Listed by CISA on 8 June 2022. US federal agencies were required to remediate it by 22 June 2022.
EPSS — exploitation probability
FIRST puts the probability of exploitation activity in the next 30 days at 35.8%, which is higher than 98.5% of all scored vulnerabilities. EPSS is a forecast of activity, not a measure of severity, and it is rescored daily.
CVSS vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Frequently asked questions
Is CVE-2018-4990 being exploited by ransomware groups?
No ransomware group in this database is currently recorded as exploiting CVE-2018-4990.
What does CVE-2018-4990 affect?
CVE-2018-4990 affects Adobe Acrobat and Reader. Adobe Acrobat and Reader versions 2018.011.20038 and earlier, 2017.011.30079 and earlier, and 2015.006.30417 and earlier have a Double Free vulnerability. Successful exploitation could lead to arbitrary code execution in the context of the current user.
How severe is CVE-2018-4990?
CVE-2018-4990 is rated HIGH with a CVSS base score of 8.8. EPSS puts the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days at 35.8%, higher than 98.5% of all scored vulnerabilities. It is listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog, with a federal remediation deadline of 22 June 2022.
How should organisations respond to CVE-2018-4990?
Apply the vendor patch for Adobe Acrobat and Reader as the first priority, and treat any internet-facing instance as the most urgent. Because this vulnerability is associated with ransomware activity, also review whether the affected systems were reachable before patching, rather than assuming that patching alone closes the incident.