How severe is CVE-2020-24428?

CVE-2020-24428 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 7.7, rated high severity. It is exploitable over local access with high attack complexity, requires no privileges and user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is high, integrity high, and availability high.

Is CVE-2020-24428 being actively exploited?

It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 2% (81st percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

What products are affected by CVE-2020-24428?

CVE-2020-24428 primarily affects Adobe Acrobat. In total, 6 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.

How do I fix CVE-2020-24428?

Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround. Given its high severity, prioritise patching exposed systems.

When was CVE-2020-24428 published?

CVE-2020-24428 was published on 2020-11-05 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

CVE-2020-24428

CVE-2020-24428 is a high-severity vulnerability in Adobe Acrobat with a CVSS 3.x base score of 7.7. It is not currently listed as actively exploited by CISA, and its EPSS exploit-prediction score is low. The underlying weakness is classified as CWE-367.

Key facts

Severity: High (CVSS 3.x base score 7.7)
CVSS v2: 5.1
EPSS exploit prediction: 2% (81st percentile)
Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
Weakness: CWE-367
Affected product: Adobe Acrobat
Published: 2020-11-05
Last modified: 2026-06-17

Description

Acrobat Reader DC versions 2020.012.20048 (and earlier), 2020.001.30005 (and earlier) and 2017.011.30175 (and earlier) for macOS are affected by a time-of-check time-of-use (TOCTOU) race condition vulnerability that could result in local privilege escalation. Exploitation of this issue requires user interaction in that a victim must open a malicious file.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2020-24428?: Acrobat Reader DC versions 2020.012.20048 (and earlier), 2020.001.30005 (and earlier) and 2017.011.30175 (and earlier) for macOS are affected by a time-of-check time-of-use (TOCTOU) race condition vulnerability that could result in local privilege escalation. Exploitation of this issue requires user interaction in that a victim must open a malicious file.
How severe is CVE-2020-24428?: CVE-2020-24428 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 7.7, rated high severity. It is exploitable over local access with high attack complexity, requires no privileges and user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is high, integrity high, and availability high.
Is CVE-2020-24428 being actively exploited?: It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 2% (81st percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
What products are affected by CVE-2020-24428?: CVE-2020-24428 primarily affects Adobe Acrobat. In total, 6 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.
How do I fix CVE-2020-24428?: Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround. Given its high severity, prioritise patching exposed systems.
When was CVE-2020-24428 published?: CVE-2020-24428 was published on 2020-11-05 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

References

https://helpx.adobe.com/security/products/acrobat/apsb20-67.html

Affected products (6)

cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat:*:*:*:*:classic:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat_dc:*:*:*:*:classic:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat_dc:*:*:*:*:continuous:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat_reader:*:*:*:*:classic:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat_reader_dc:*:*:*:*:classic:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat_reader_dc:*:*:*:*:continuous:*:*:*

More vulnerabilities in Adobe Acrobat

CVE-2018-4872 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): An issue was discovered in Adobe Acrobat Reader 2018.009.20050 and earlier versions, 2017.011.30070 and earlier…
CVE-2016-1044 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): Adobe Reader and Acrobat before 11.0.16, Acrobat and Acrobat Reader DC Classic before 15.006.30172, and Acrobat and…
CVE-2016-1041 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): Adobe Reader and Acrobat before 11.0.16, Acrobat and Acrobat Reader DC Classic before 15.006.30172, and Acrobat and…
CVE-2016-1038 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): Adobe Reader and Acrobat before 11.0.16, Acrobat and Acrobat Reader DC Classic before 15.006.30172, and Acrobat and…
CVE-2015-7622 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): Adobe Reader and Acrobat 10.x before 10.1.16 and 11.x before 11.0.13, Acrobat and Acrobat Reader DC Classic before…
CVE-2015-6691 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): Use-after-free vulnerability in Adobe Reader and Acrobat 10.x before 10.1.16 and 11.x before 11.0.13, Acrobat and…

All CVEs affecting Adobe Acrobat →

Other CWE-367 (Time-of-check Time-of-use (TOCTOU) Race Condition) vulnerabilities

CVE-2026-25641 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): SandboxJS is a JavaScript sandboxing library. Prior to 0.8.29, there is a sandbox escape vulnerability due to a…
CVE-2025-64180 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): Manager-io/Manager is accounting software. In Manager Desktop and Server versions 25.11.1.3085 and below, a critical…
CVE-2025-34027 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): The Versa Concerto SD-WAN orchestration platform is vulnerable to an authentication bypass in the Traefik reverse proxy…
CVE-2026-25052 — Critical (CVSS 9.9): n8n is an open source workflow automation platform. Prior to versions 1.123.18 and 2.5.0, a vulnerability in the file…
CVE-2025-13032 — Critical (CVSS 9.9): Double fetch in sandbox kernel driver in Avast/AVG Antivirus <25.3 on windows allows local attacker to escalate…
CVE-2026-53838 — Critical (CVSS 9.8): OpenClaw before 2026.5.27 contains a state mutation vulnerability in node pairing reconnection that allows paired nodes…

Browse all CWE-367 (Time-of-check Time-of-use (TOCTOU) Race Condition) vulnerabilities →