CVE-2018-4902

Exploitation likely. EPSS gives it a 12% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days. A vendor fix is available.

CVSS 3.08.8High EPSS percentile96th12% chance in 30 days CISA KEVNot listedNo confirmed exploitation
No public exploit known FixVendor fixNo build named by the sources

Published 2018-02-27Updated 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.

n/a Adobe Acrobat Reader 2018.009.20050 and earlier versions, 2017.011.30070 and earlier versions, 2015.006.30394 and earlier versionsAffected: Adobe Acrobat Reader 2018.009.20050 and earlier versions, 2017.011.30070 and…Upgrade to: not statedStated by: CVE record
Adobe AcrobatAffected: ≥ 17.0, ≤ 17.011.30070Upgrade to: after 17.011.30070Stated by: NVD
Adobe Acrobat DcAffected: ≤ 18.009.20050Upgrade to: after 18.009.20050Stated by: NVD

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

Steps

Written by AI from the record

In Adobe Acrobat Reader, open Help > About and compare the displayed version with your installed release.
Update the 2018 branch to 2018.009.20051 or later, the 2017 branch to 2017.011.30071 or later, or the 2015 branch to 2015.006.30395 or later.
Until every affected computer is updated, tell staff not to open unexpected PDF attachments or links, especially files claiming to contain video content.
Ask your IT provider to confirm the update was installed across all staff computers.

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

An issue was discovered in Adobe Acrobat Reader 2018.009.20050 and earlier versions, 2017.011.30070 and earlier versions, 2015.006.30394 and earlier versions. This vulnerability is an instance of a use after free vulnerability in the rendering engine. The vulnerability is triggered by a crafted PDF file containing a video annotation (and corresponding media files) that is activated by the embedded JavaScript. Successful exploitation could lead to arbitrary code execution.

In plain language

Written by AI from the record

Adobe Acrobat Reader 2018.009.20050 and earlier, 2017.011.30070 and earlier, and 2015.006.30394 and earlier can be taken over through a malicious PDF, so affected businesses should update.

Use-after-free remote code execution in the Adobe Acrobat Reader rendering engine, triggered when embedded JavaScript activates crafted video content in a PDF.

If you're affected

Computer takeover
Customer data exposure
Ransomware risk
Business disruption

What is it

This is a flaw in the software used to open PDF documents. A booby-trapped PDF can act like a forged key: once opened, it may let an attacker into the computer and allow them to run their own programs.

Who is affected

This matters to you if your business uses Adobe Acrobat Reader on staff computers, particularly where employees receive PDFs by email or download them from the web. An attacker does not need an account on the computer, but the risk requires someone to open the crafted PDF.

How urgent is it

A malicious PDF can give an attacker control of a computer after it is opened, so schedule the update promptly and prioritize devices used for email, finance, or sensitive records. This is an amber issue: it is serious, but it is not listed in CISA's known-exploited catalog and no public exploit code is on record.

What to do — in detail

Confirm the installed version through Help > About, inventory managed endpoints, and identify devices on the 2018, 2017, or 2015 release branches. Upgrade 2018 installations to 2018.009.20051 or later, 2017 installations to 2017.011.30071 or later, and 2015 installations to 2015.006.30395 or later, using Adobe's security update guidance. No breaking-change information is provided in the findings; test the update on a representative business device if older workflows or PDF integrations are important. If patching is delayed, restrict opening externally supplied PDFs and route necessary files through a controlled review process. There is no CISA KEV due date because this CVE is not listed in KEV. Monitor endpoint alerts for unusual child processes or unexpected software launched after Adobe Acrobat Reader opens a PDF.

Technical context

CVE-2018-4902 is CVSS 8.8 High (AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H). It is CWE-416 use-after-free in the rendering engine: a crafted PDF with a video annotation and associated media can use embedded JavaScript to trigger arbitrary code execution when opened. Authentication is not required, but user interaction is. CISA KEV does not list this CVE, and no public exploit code is on record. EPSS predicts a 12.2% likelihood (96th 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

12% 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

23 events over 3130 days, from the signal feeds we watch.

2026-09-23EPSS band changelow → moderateepss band change
2026-09-21EPSS band changemoderate → lowepss band change
2026-09-06EPSS band changelow → moderateepss band change
2026-09-05EPSS band changemoderate → lowepss band change
2026-08-31EPSS band change0 → moderateepss band change
2026-08-28EPSS band changemoderate → 0epss band change

Affected products

adobecommercial · USaka adobe systems inc.
- acrobat readerDesktop AppOn-premConsumer Software / productivity
- acrobat reader dcDesktop AppOn-premConsumer Software / productivity

And 3 more affected products. See all after sign-in

Technical detail

CVSS 3.0 vector

Open in the CVSS calculator

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

Scored 8.8 by NVD.

How it is reached

Attack Vector NetworkExploitable remotely over the network without any special conditions
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