---
id: CVE-2026-81996
title: >-
  Acrobat Reader is affected by an Incorrect Authorization vulnerability that
  could result in privilege escalation
summary: >-
  Acrobat Reader is affected by an Incorrect Authorization vulnerability that
  could result in privilege escalation. A low-privileged attacker could exploit
  this vulnerability to gain elevated access. Exploitation of this issue does
  not req…
severity: high
cvss: 8.8
cvssVector: 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H'
cwe:
  - CWE-863
vendor: adobe
product: acrobat
affected:
  - 'acrobat >= 24.0.0, < 24.001.30429'
  - 'acrobat_dc >= 15.008.20082, < 26.002.21901'
  - 'acrobat_reader_dc >= 15.008.20082, < 26.002.21901'
patched:
  - acrobat 24.001.30429
  - acrobat_dc 26.002.21901
  - acrobat_reader_dc 26.002.21901
published: '2026-09-08'
updated: '2026-09-10'
sourceUpdated: '2026-09-10T16:27:51.693'
source: NVD
sourceUrl: 'https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-81996'
references:
  - url: 'https://helpx.adobe.com/security/products/acrobat/apsb26-141.html'
    label: psirt@adobe.com
tags:
  - nvd
  - cve.org
epss: 0.00131
epssPercentile: 0.03082
ssvc:
  exploitation: none
  automatable: 'no'
  technicalImpact: total
  timestamp: '2026-09-09T04:27:48.439009Z'
ingestedAt: '2026-09-08T21:11:12.369Z'
---

## Overview

Acrobat Reader is affected by an Incorrect Authorization vulnerability that could result in privilege escalation. A low-privileged attacker could exploit this vulnerability to gain elevated access. Exploitation of this issue does not require user interaction. Scope is changed.

## Affected

- `acrobat >= 24.0.0, < 24.001.30429`
- `acrobat_dc >= 15.008.20082, < 26.002.21901`
- `acrobat_reader_dc >= 15.008.20082, < 26.002.21901`

## Remediation

Upgrade past the affected range:

- `acrobat 24.001.30429`
- `acrobat_dc 26.002.21901`
- `acrobat_reader_dc 26.002.21901`