CVE-2015-3048: Buffer overflow in Adobe Reader and Acrobat 10.x before 10.1.14 and 11.x before 11.0.11 on Windows and OS X al

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HIGH 10.0WATCHLISTDOWNGRADEMITIGATEMITIGATE

CVE-2015-3048 is a high-severity flaw (CVSS 10.0) affecting acrobat, mac os x, windows. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

Buffer overflow in Adobe Reader and Acrobat 10.x before 10.1.14 and 11.x before 11.0.11 on Windows and OS X allows attackers to execute arbitrary code via unknown vectors.

Why this priority

Critical severity
EPSS top 4%: very likely to be exploited
On your watchlist

No fix is published yet: follow the downgrade or mitigation steps.

Risk facts

CVSS score	10.0 (High)
EPSS exploit chance	13.6% (top 4%)
CISA exploited list	No
Weakness	CWE-119
Published	2015-05-13
Last modified	2026-06-17

Publisher (CNA): Adobe Systems Incorporated · Vendor: adobe · apple · microsoft

Last updated 2026-06-17 · Sources: CVE Program, NVD, CISA KEV, EPSS and vendor advisories · How we score

Am I affected?

Timeline

2015-05-13 10:59 UTCPublished CVE record published
2026-06-17 00:25 UTCUpdated Record last modified

adobe acrobat DOWNGRADE

Affected: 10.1.0 · 10.1.1 · 10.1.2 · 10.1.3 · 10.1.4 · 10.1.5 · 10.1.6 · 10.1.7

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 10.1.0

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy acrobat || rpm -q acrobat || acrobat --version

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE to a release before 10.1.0 (Debian / Ubuntu)

apt-cache madison acrobat sudo apt install acrobat=<VERSION_BEFORE_10.1.0> sudo apt-mark hold acrobat

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

dnf --showduplicates list acrobat sudo dnf downgrade acrobat-<VERSION_BEFORE_10.1.0> sudo dnf versionlock add acrobat

Downgrade risk

Downgrading can break dependent software and may reopen older bugs. Read the distro advisory first and test on a non-production host.

After downgrade

Restart the service, and keep the package held until a fixed release ships.

apple mac os x MITIGATE

Affected: all versions

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: no unaffected older release

Check your OS release

cat /etc/os-release; uname -r

Debian / Ubuntu

sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade

RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora

sudo dnf upgrade --refresh

Windows

Install the latest cumulative update from Windows Update

If no patch exists yet

OS downgrades are not safe. Apply the vendor mitigation from the advisory and restrict exposure.

microsoft windows MITIGATE

Affected: all versions

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: no unaffected older release

Check your OS release

cat /etc/os-release; uname -r

Debian / Ubuntu

sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade

RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora

sudo dnf upgrade --refresh

Windows

Install the latest cumulative update from Windows Update

If no patch exists yet

OS downgrades are not safe. Apply the vendor mitigation from the advisory and restrict exposure.

adobe acrobat reader DOWNGRADE

Affected: 10.1.0 · 10.1.1 · 10.1.2 · 10.1.3 · 10.1.4 · 10.1.5 · 10.1.6 · 10.1.7

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 10.1.0

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy acrobat-reader || rpm -q acrobat-reader || acrobat-reader --version

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE to a release before 10.1.0 (Debian / Ubuntu)

apt-cache madison acrobat-reader sudo apt install acrobat-reader=<VERSION_BEFORE_10.1.0> sudo apt-mark hold acrobat-reader

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

dnf --showduplicates list acrobat-reader sudo dnf downgrade acrobat-reader-<VERSION_BEFORE_10.1.0> sudo dnf versionlock add acrobat-reader

Downgrade risk

Downgrading can break dependent software and may reopen older bugs. Read the distro advisory first and test on a non-production host.

After downgrade

Restart the service, and keep the package held until a fixed release ships.

Verify at the official source NVD · CVE Program · Report a problem with this page
Scores and fixes here are computed automatically from those and other public sources. Confirm with the vendor advisory before changing production systems.

Quick answers

How do I fix CVE-2015-3048?

acrobat: downgrade or apply the listed mitigation; mac os x: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation; windows: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Is CVE-2015-3048 being exploited?

CVE-2015-3048 is not on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list at the time of the last update. Check again, as this can change.

What does CVE-2015-3048 affect?

CVE-2015-3048 affects acrobat, mac os x, windows. Severity is high (CVSS 10.0). Buffer overflow in Adobe Reader and Acrobat 10.x before 10.1.14 and 11.x before 11.0.11 on Windows and OS X allows attackers to execute arbitrary code via unknown vectors.

How urgent is CVE-2015-3048?

Priority 64/100. Critical severity; EPSS top 4%: very likely to be exploited; On your watchlist

Software pages

Windows vulnerabilities · Adobe Acrobat vulnerabilities · Adobe Reader vulnerabilities

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References

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