CVE-2018-4976

Exploitation likely. EPSS gives it a 11% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days. A vendor fix is available.

CVSS 3.07.5High EPSS percentile96th11% chance in 30 days CISA KEVNot listedNo confirmed exploitation
No public exploit known FixVendor fixNo build named by the sources

Published 2018-07-09Updated 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 and Reader 2018.011.20038 and earlier, 2017.011.30079 and earlier, and 2015.006.30417 and earlier versionsAffected: Adobe Acrobat and Reader 2018.011.20038 and earlier, 2017.011.30079 and…Upgrade to: not statedStated by: CVE record
Adobe Acrobat DcAffected: ≥ 15.006.30060, ≤ 15.006.30417Upgrade to: after 15.006.30417Stated by: NVD

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

Steps

Written by AI from the record

Check every computer running Adobe Acrobat and Reader for its installed version.
Update the 2018 branch to 2018.011.20040 or later.
Update the 2017 branch to 2017.011.30080 or later, or the 2015 branch to 2015.006.30418 or later.
If you cannot update promptly, limit the software's network exposure and restrict use to trusted networks until it is updated.

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 2018.011.20038 and earlier, 2017.011.30079 and earlier, and 2015.006.30417 and earlier have an Out-of-bounds read vulnerability. Successful exploitation could lead to information disclosure.

In plain language

Written by AI from the record

Adobe Acrobat and Reader 2018.011.20038 and earlier, 2017.011.30079 and earlier, and 2015.006.30417 and earlier can expose confidential information to an outsider, so a typical small business should update affected installations soon.

Unauthenticated network-reachable out-of-bounds read in Adobe Acrobat and Reader enables information disclosure without user interaction.

If you're affected

Sensitive document exposure
Customer information exposure
Business data disclosure
Privacy incident risk

What is it

This is a defect that can let an outsider read information that should stay inside a computer using the affected software. Think of it as a filing cabinet with a damaged drawer: someone may be able to see papers beside the file they should have access to.

Who is affected

This matters to you if your business uses Adobe Acrobat and Reader on staff computers. It is relevant only when the installed version is one of the affected releases; the issue is reachable over a network and does not require the attacker to have a login or wait for someone to take an action.

How urgent is it

Attackers can attempt to obtain confidential information remotely from an affected installation without credentials. There is no confirmed active exploitation and no public exploit code on record, but the predicted likelihood is elevated and rising, so treat this as an amber-priority update.

What to do — in detail

Confirm exposure by inventorying installed Adobe Acrobat and Reader versions across managed and unmanaged endpoints, including separately maintained 2018, 2017, and 2015 branches. Upgrade the 2018 branch to 2018.011.20040 or later, the 2017 branch to 2017.011.30080 or later, and the 2015 branch to 2015.006.30418 or later; review the vendor advisory for deployment guidance: https://helpx.adobe.com/security/products/acrobat/apsb18-09.html.

No CISA KEV due date applies because CVE-2018-4976 is not listed in KEV. If patching must wait, reduce network reachability to affected endpoints and limit use to trusted networks. Monitor software inventory and update-deployment reports for remaining vulnerable versions; no public exploit code is on record.

Technical context

CVE-2018-4976 is CVSS 7.5 High (CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N), classified as CWE-125 out-of-bounds read. It permits unauthenticated, network-based information disclosure with no user interaction, when Adobe Acrobat or Reader is running a vulnerable version. CISA KEV does not list the CVE and no public exploit code is on record. EPSS estimates a 10.9% likelihood (96th percentile), with a rising trend; this is predictive rather than evidence of active exploitation.

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

11% 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 2998 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 → 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 reader dcDesktop AppOn-premConsumer Software / productivity

And 2 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:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N

Scored 7.5 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 NoneNo user interaction needed — fully automated exploitation

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 NoneNo integrity impact
Availability NoneNo availability impact