CVE-2025-24431 Overview
CVE-2025-24431 is an out-of-bounds read vulnerability [CWE-125] affecting Adobe Acrobat and Adobe Acrobat Reader on Windows and macOS. The flaw allows an attacker to read memory outside the intended buffer boundaries, disclosing sensitive process memory. Adobe published the issue in security advisory APSB25-14. Exploitation requires user interaction, specifically opening a crafted PDF file. An attacker can leverage the disclosed memory to bypass mitigations such as Address Space Layout Randomization (ASLR), which weakens the defenses protecting against subsequent memory corruption exploits.
Critical Impact
Successful exploitation discloses sensitive process memory and enables ASLR bypass, facilitating chained attacks against Adobe Acrobat and Acrobat Reader users.
Affected Products
- Adobe Acrobat DC (Continuous track) versions 25.001.20428 and earlier
- Adobe Acrobat Reader (Classic track) versions 24.001.30225 and 20.005.30748 and earlier
- Adobe Acrobat and Acrobat Reader on Microsoft Windows and Apple macOS
Discovery Timeline
- 2025-03-11 - CVE-2025-24431 published to the National Vulnerability Database (NVD)
- 2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2025-24431
Vulnerability Analysis
The vulnerability is an out-of-bounds read within Adobe Acrobat and Acrobat Reader parsing logic. When the application processes a malformed PDF object, it reads bytes beyond the allocated buffer. The returned data can include pointers, heap metadata, or stack contents from the Acrobat process. Attackers use these values to derive base addresses of loaded modules and defeat ASLR. The confidentiality impact is high, while integrity and availability are not directly affected. The Common Weakness Enumeration classification is [CWE-125] Out-of-bounds Read.
Root Cause
The root cause is missing or incorrect bounds validation on an index or length field parsed from a PDF structure. Acrobat trusts an attacker-controlled size when reading from a buffer, causing the read to overrun the allocation. See the Adobe Security Advisory APSB25-14 for advisory-level detail.
Attack Vector
The attack vector is local and requires user interaction. A victim must open a malicious PDF delivered through email, web download, chat, or shared storage. Once opened, Acrobat parses the crafted objects and returns memory contents to attacker-controlled JavaScript or downstream logic inside the file. The disclosed memory is then used to defeat ASLR before a second-stage memory corruption exploit is triggered.
No verified public proof-of-concept exists at the time of publication. See the Adobe advisory for technical scope.
Detection Methods for CVE-2025-24431
Indicators of Compromise
- PDF documents from untrusted sources containing malformed cross-reference tables, obfuscated JavaScript, or unusual object stream structures.
- Acrobat or Acrobat Reader processes spawning unexpected child processes such as cmd.exe, powershell.exe, or rundll32.exe shortly after opening a PDF.
- Unusual outbound network connections from AcroRd32.exe or Acrobat.exe following document open events.
Detection Strategies
- Alert on execution of Acrobat or Acrobat Reader binaries older than the fixed versions listed in APSB25-14 across managed endpoints.
- Hunt for anomalous memory access patterns and access violations attributed to AcroRd32.exe or Acrobat.exe in Windows Event Log and crash telemetry.
- Inspect email and web gateway logs for PDF attachments containing embedded JavaScript, launch actions, or malformed object streams.
Monitoring Recommendations
- Monitor endpoint telemetry for child-process creation events where the parent is an Acrobat process.
- Track version inventory of Adobe Acrobat and Acrobat Reader to identify unpatched hosts.
- Correlate PDF file arrival events with subsequent process, file, and network activity to identify staged exploitation.
How to Mitigate CVE-2025-24431
Immediate Actions Required
- Apply the Adobe security update from advisory APSB25-14 to all Windows and macOS hosts running Acrobat or Acrobat Reader.
- Inventory endpoints for vulnerable versions 24.001.30225, 20.005.30748, 25.001.20428, and earlier, and prioritize patching.
- Restrict opening of PDF files received from untrusted sources until patches are deployed.
Patch Information
Adobe released fixed versions of Acrobat DC, Acrobat 2024, and Acrobat 2020 in security bulletin APSB25-14. Administrators should deploy the updates through Adobe Update Server, Microsoft Intune, Jamf, or equivalent patch-management tooling. Verify that both the Continuous and Classic tracks are updated where deployed.
Workarounds
- Enable Protected View for files originating from the internet and other untrusted locations in Acrobat preferences.
- Disable JavaScript in Acrobat and Acrobat Reader through Preferences > JavaScript > Enable Acrobat JavaScript when business workflows allow.
- Route inbound PDFs through a sandboxed content-disarm-and-reconstruction (CDR) pipeline until all endpoints are patched.
# Configuration example: disable JavaScript in Acrobat Reader via Windows registry
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
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
