CVE-2024-20731: Adobe Acrobat DC RCE Vulnerability

CVE-2024-20731 Overview

CVE-2024-20731 is a Use After Free vulnerability [CWE-416] affecting Adobe Acrobat and Adobe Acrobat Reader. Affected versions include 20.005.30539, 23.008.20470, and earlier releases on both Windows and macOS. An attacker who convinces a victim to open a crafted PDF can trigger arbitrary code execution in the context of the current user. Adobe addressed the flaw in security bulletin APSB24-07. The issue was reported through Cisco Talos as TALOS-2023-1901. Exploitation requires user interaction, and no public proof-of-concept or in-the-wild exploitation has been confirmed.

Critical Impact
Successful exploitation allows arbitrary code execution as the current user through a malicious PDF, enabling attackers to install malware, steal data, or pivot within the environment.

Affected Products

Adobe Acrobat DC (Continuous track) versions 20.005.30539, 23.008.20470 and earlier
Adobe Acrobat Reader DC (Continuous track) — same affected versions
Adobe Acrobat and Acrobat Reader (Classic track) on Microsoft Windows and Apple macOS

Discovery Timeline

2024-02-15 - CVE-2024-20731 published to the National Vulnerability Database
2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2024-20731

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability is a Use After Free condition in Adobe Acrobat and Acrobat Reader triggered during processing of a malicious PDF document. When the application frees a memory object but retains a stale reference, subsequent operations dereference that pointer. An attacker who controls the freed memory region can steer execution into attacker-supplied data.

Because PDF documents can embed JavaScript, form actions, and complex object structures, attackers commonly use scripted heap grooming to reclaim freed memory with controlled content. Exploitation of Use After Free flaws in Acrobat has historically been chained with sandbox escapes or information leaks to defeat ASLR and DEP. The result is arbitrary code execution under the privileges of the user opening the file.

Root Cause

The root cause is improper object lifetime management in the PDF rendering engine, mapped to CWE-416. Adobe has not published the specific object or code path; the Talos Intelligence Vulnerability Report TALOS-2023-1901 documents the technical trigger conditions.

Attack Vector

The attack vector is local and requires user interaction. A victim must open a malicious PDF delivered via email attachment, drive-by download, chat, or shared file storage. No network authentication is required, and the attacker never touches the target directly. Once opened, exploitation proceeds inside the Acrobat process without further user prompts.

The vulnerability manifests during the parsing and rendering of specifically crafted PDF objects that induce premature deallocation. See the Talos Intelligence Vulnerability Report TALOS-2023-1901 for the reproduction details.

Detection Methods for CVE-2024-20731

Indicators of Compromise

Unexpected child processes spawned by AcroRd32.exe or Acrobat.exe, especially cmd.exe, powershell.exe, wscript.exe, or rundll32.exe.
Acrobat processes making outbound network connections to unfamiliar domains shortly after a PDF is opened.
PDF files containing embedded JavaScript, unusual object streams, or heap-spray patterns arriving from external senders.
Crash dumps or Windows Error Reporting events referencing access violations inside Acrobat modules.

Detection Strategies

Alert on process-tree anomalies where Acrobat or Reader spawns interpreters, shells, or LOLBins.
Inspect email gateways and web proxies for PDFs with embedded JavaScript and match against known malicious samples.
Monitor for memory-write and code-injection behavior originating from Acrobat processes using behavioral detection.

Monitoring Recommendations

Collect endpoint telemetry (process creation, image loads, network connections) for AcroRd32.exe and Acrobat.exe and forward to a central SIEM.
Track installed Acrobat versions across the fleet and flag hosts running 20.005.30539, 23.008.20470, or earlier.
Enable Protected Mode and Protected View in Acrobat and audit configuration compliance.

How to Mitigate CVE-2024-20731

Immediate Actions Required

Apply the updates listed in Adobe Security Bulletin APSB24-07 to all Windows and macOS endpoints running Acrobat or Reader.
Inventory endpoints and prioritize systems used by high-risk users such as executives, finance, HR, and legal.
Block or quarantine inbound PDFs from untrusted senders at the email gateway until patching is complete.

Patch Information

Adobe released fixed versions in APSB24-07 on February 13, 2024. Update Acrobat DC and Acrobat Reader DC on the Continuous track, and Acrobat and Acrobat Reader on the Classic track, to the versions specified in the bulletin. Enable automatic updates in the Acrobat preferences to reduce future exposure.

Workarounds

Enable Protected View for files from the internet and potentially unsafe locations in Acrobat preferences.
Disable JavaScript execution in Acrobat and Reader via Edit > Preferences > JavaScript for user populations that do not require it.
Restrict PDF handlers so untrusted documents open in a browser-based sandboxed viewer rather than the native Acrobat client.

bash

# Windows: disable Acrobat JavaScript via registry (example)
reg add "HKCU\Software\Adobe\Acrobat Reader\DC\JSPrefs" /v bEnableJS /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f

# Enforce Protected View for all files
reg add "HKCU\Software\Adobe\Acrobat Reader\DC\TrustManager" /v iProtectedView /t REG_DWORD /d 2 /f