CVE-2016-4091: Heap-based buffer overflow in Adobe Reader and Acrobat before 11.0.16, Acrobat and Acrobat Reader DC Classic b

Q: How do I fix CVE-2016-4091?

acrobat: upgrade to newer than 11.0.15; acrobat dc: upgrade to newer than 15.010.20060; acrobat reader dc: upgrade to newer than 15.010.20060. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Q: Is CVE-2016-4091 being exploited?

CVE-2016-4091 is not on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list at the time of the last update. Check again, as this can change.

Q: What does CVE-2016-4091 affect?

CVE-2016-4091 affects acrobat, acrobat dc, acrobat reader dc. Severity is critical (CVSS 9.8). Heap-based buffer overflow in Adobe Reader and Acrobat before 11.0.16, Acrobat and Acrobat Reader DC Classic before 15.006.30172, and Acrobat and Acrobat Reader DC Continuous before 15.016.20039 on Windows and OS X allows attackers to execu

Q: How urgent is CVE-2016-4091?

Priority 63/100. Critical severity; EPSS top 4%: very likely to be exploited; Remotely exploitable, no login, no user action

This week

CRITICAL 9.8REMOTEUPGRADEUPGRADEUPGRADE

CVE-2016-4091 is a critical-severity flaw (CVSS 9.8) affecting acrobat, acrobat dc, acrobat reader dc. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

Heap-based buffer overflow in Adobe Reader and Acrobat before 11.0.16, Acrobat and Acrobat Reader DC Classic before 15.006.30172, and Acrobat and Acrobat Reader DC Continuous before 15.016.20039 on Windows and OS X allows attackers to execute arbitrary code via unspecified vectors, a different vulnerability than CVE-2016-4092.

Why this priority

Critical severity
EPSS top 4%: very likely to be exploited
Remotely exploitable, no login, no user action

A fixed release or distro patch exists.

Risk facts

CVSS score	9.8 (Critical)
Attack vector	Network (remote)
Attack complexity	Low
Privileges needed	None
User interaction	None
EPSS exploit chance	9.9% (top 4%)
CISA exploited list	No
Weakness	CWE-119
Published	2016-05-11
Last modified	2026-06-17

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

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

Am I affected?

Timeline

2016-05-11 11:00 UTCPublished CVE record published
2026-06-17 00:46 UTCUpdated Record last modified

adobe acrobat UPGRADE

Affected: <= 11.0.15

Fixed in: newer than 11.0.15

Safe to downgrade to: no unaffected older release

1. Check installed version

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

2. UPGRADE to newer than 11.0.15 (Debian / Ubuntu)

sudo apt update && sudo apt install --only-upgrade acrobat

2. UPGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

sudo dnf upgrade acrobat

Note

Distros often backport fixes without changing the version number. Confirm with the distro advisory or changelog.

adobe acrobat dc UPGRADE

Affected: <= 15.006.30121 · <= 15.010.20060

Fixed in: newer than 15.010.20060

Safe to downgrade to: no unaffected older release

1. Check installed version

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

2. UPGRADE to newer than 15.010.20060 (Debian / Ubuntu)

sudo apt update && sudo apt install --only-upgrade acrobat-dc

2. UPGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

sudo dnf upgrade acrobat-dc

Note

Distros often backport fixes without changing the version number. Confirm with the distro advisory or changelog.

adobe acrobat reader dc UPGRADE

Affected: <= 15.006.30121 · <= 15.010.20060

Fixed in: newer than 15.010.20060

Safe to downgrade to: no unaffected older release

1. Check installed version

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

2. UPGRADE to newer than 15.010.20060 (Debian / Ubuntu)

sudo apt update && sudo apt install --only-upgrade acrobat-reader-dc

2. UPGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

sudo dnf upgrade acrobat-reader-dc

Note

Distros often backport fixes without changing the version number. Confirm with the distro advisory or changelog.

adobe reader UPGRADE

Affected: <= 11.0.15

Fixed in: newer than 11.0.15

Safe to downgrade to: no unaffected older release

1. Check installed version

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

2. UPGRADE to newer than 11.0.15 (Debian / Ubuntu)

sudo apt update && sudo apt install --only-upgrade reader

2. UPGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

sudo dnf upgrade reader

Note

Distros often backport fixes without changing the version number. Confirm with the distro advisory or changelog.

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-2016-4091?

acrobat: upgrade to newer than 11.0.15; acrobat dc: upgrade to newer than 15.010.20060; acrobat reader dc: upgrade to newer than 15.010.20060. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Is CVE-2016-4091 being exploited?

CVE-2016-4091 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-2016-4091 affect?

CVE-2016-4091 affects acrobat, acrobat dc, acrobat reader dc. Severity is critical (CVSS 9.8). Heap-based buffer overflow in Adobe Reader and Acrobat before 11.0.16, Acrobat and Acrobat Reader DC Classic before 15.006.30172, and Acrobat and Acrobat Reader DC Continuous before 15.016.20039 on Windows and OS X allows attackers to execu

How urgent is CVE-2016-4091?

Priority 63/100. Critical severity; EPSS top 4%: very likely to be exploited; Remotely exploitable, no login, no user action

Software pages

Windows vulnerabilities · Adobe Acrobat vulnerabilities · Adobe Reader vulnerabilities

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References

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