CVE-2018-12851

Exploitation likely. EPSS gives it a 10% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days. A vendor fix is available.

CVSS 3.07.8High EPSS percentile96th10% chance in 30 days CISA KEVNot listedNo confirmed exploitation
No public exploit known FixVendor fixNo build named by the sources

Published 2018-10-12Updated 2024-11-21Sources: CVE.org, NVD

NVD CVE.org

What to do

The vendor has published a fix. Version details are below where the sources state them.

Adobe Acrobat and ReaderAffected: 2018.011.20063 and earlier, 2017.011.30102 and earlier, and 2015.006.30452 and…Upgrade to: not statedStated by: CVE record
Adobe Acrobat DcAffected: ≥ 15.006.30060, ≤ 15.006.30452Upgrade to: after 15.006.30452Stated by: NVD

Versions as the sources state them. Full version matrix after sign-in

Steps

Written by AI from the record

Check whether Adobe Acrobat is installed and whether its version is 2018.011.20063 or earlier, 2017.011.30102 or earlier, or 2015.006.30452 or earlier.
Update the 2018 track to 2018.011.20065 or later, the 2017 track to 2017.011.30105 or later, or the 2015 track to 2015.006.30456 or later.
Until updated, tell staff not to open unexpected files, especially files received through unsolicited email or downloads.

Vendor advisory Some work to apply

Check it yourselfA free OpenVAS check exists for this CVE. Run it against your hosts.Is your organisation exposed?Request an assessment to establish which checks fit your systems.

What it is

From the CVE record

Adobe Acrobat and Reader versions 2018.011.20063 and earlier, 2017.011.30102 and earlier, and 2015.006.30452 and earlier have a heap overflow vulnerability. Successful exploitation could lead to arbitrary code execution.

In plain language

Written by AI from the record

Older Adobe Acrobat versions can let a malicious file take control of the computer of a person who opens it, so affected small businesses should update.

CWE-787 heap overflow in Adobe Acrobat allows arbitrary code execution as the current user after opening a crafted local file.

If you're affected

Computer takeover
Sensitive document exposure
Malware installation
Business interruption

What is it

This is a flaw in Adobe Acrobat’s handling of a malicious file. Opening one is like accepting a package with a hidden person inside who can then use the same access as the employee who opened the door.

Who is affected

This matters to you if your business uses Adobe Acrobat on staff computers and has not installed the relevant update. No attacker login is needed, but the risk applies only if a user opens a malicious file locally.

How urgent is it

No confirmed active exploitation or public exploit code is recorded, but the flaw can give an attacker control of the affected employee’s computer. Treat this as an amber-priority update: schedule it promptly, especially on computers that regularly receive files from customers, suppliers, or email.

What to do — in detail

Confirm the installed Acrobat version and its update track on each managed endpoint. Vulnerable releases are 2018.011.20063 and earlier, 2017.011.30102 and earlier, and 2015.006.30452 and earlier; target 2018.011.20065 or later, 2017.011.30105 or later, and 2015.006.30456 or later respectively.

Use Adobe’s normal updater or software-management deployment process, then verify the installed version after deployment. The findings do not identify a breaking-change concern. If patching must wait, reduce exposure by preventing users from opening unexpected or untrusted files and investigate endpoints where suspicious files were opened. CISA has not listed this CVE in KEV, so there is no KEV remediation due date. Monitor for suspicious child processes or unexpected software started by Acrobat after document opening.

Technical context

CVSS v3.0 is 7.8 High (AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H). The vulnerability is CWE-787, an out-of-bounds write/heap overflow, with a local attack vector: a crafted file must be opened by a user, after which arbitrary code can execute with that user’s permissions. It is not listed in CISA KEV and no public exploit code is on record. EPSS predicts a 10.1% likelihood (95th percentile) and the trend is rising.

This is a general assessment based on public vulnerability data. It does not account for your specific infrastructure — when in doubt, consult a security specialist.

Exploitation

Where each signal puts this CVE on the scale from published to confirmed exploited.

EPSS96th

CISA KEV

Not in the catalog. CISA has not confirmed exploitation.

Public exploits

No public exploit or proof of concept found in the sources we track.

EPSS

10% chance of exploitation activity in the next 30 days, which ranks it in the 96th percentile of scored CVEs.

Exploit Prediction Scoring System, FIRST.org. A probability, not a confirmation.

Lifecycle

24 events over 2903 days, from the signal feeds we watch.

2026-09-23EPSS band change0 → moderateepss band change
2026-09-21EPSS band changemoderate → 0epss band change
2026-09-06EPSS band change0 → moderateepss band change
2026-09-05EPSS band changemoderate → 0epss band change
2026-08-31EPSS band change0 → moderateepss band change
2026-08-29EPSS band changemoderate → low

Affected products

Adobecommercial · USaka adobe systems inc.
- acrobat reader dcDesktop AppOn-premConsumer Software / productivity
- Adobe Acrobat and ReaderDesktop AppConsumer Software / productivity

And 1 more affected product. See all after sign-in

Technical detail

CVSS 3.0 vector

Open in the CVSS calculator

CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Scored 7.8 by NVD.

How it is reached

Attack Vector LocalRequires local access to the vulnerable system (e.g. local login, malicious file)
Attack Complexity LowNo special conditions — the attack can be reliably reproduced
Privileges Required NoneNo authentication required — anyone can exploit this
User Interaction RequiredA user must click a link, open a file, or perform some action

Scope

Scope UnchangedImpact is limited to the vulnerable component itself

Impact if exploited

Confidentiality HighTotal information disclosure — all data in the component is compromised
Integrity HighTotal loss of integrity — attacker can modify any data in the component
Availability HighTotal denial of service — the component is completely unavailable