CVE-2018-16042: Adobe Acrobat and Reader versions 2019.008.20081 and earlier, 2019.008.20080 and earlier, 2019.008.20081 and e

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MEDIUM 6.5REMOTEUPGRADEUPGRADEDOWNGRADE

CVE-2018-16042 is a medium-severity flaw (CVSS 6.5) affecting acrobat dc, acrobat reader dc, reader. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

Adobe Acrobat and Reader versions 2019.008.20081 and earlier, 2019.008.20080 and earlier, 2019.008.20081 and earlier, 2017.011.30106 and earlier version, 2017.011.30105 and earlier version, 2015.006.30457 and earlier, and 2015.006.30456 and earlier have a security bypass vulnerability. Successful exploitation could lead to information disclosure.

Why this priority

EPSS top 1%: very likely to be exploited
Remotely exploitable, no login, no user action

A fixed release or distro patch exists.

Risk facts

CVSS score	6.5 (Medium)
Attack vector	Network (remote)
Attack complexity	Low
Privileges needed	None
User interaction	None
EPSS exploit chance	82.4% (top 1%)
CISA exploited list	No
Weakness	CWE-347
Published	2019-01-18
Last modified	2026-06-17

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

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

Am I affected?

Timeline

2019-01-18 17:29 UTCPublished CVE record published
2026-06-17 01:43 UTCUpdated Record last modified

adobe acrobat dc UPGRADE

Affected: >= 15.006.30060 and <= 15.006.30457 · >= 15.008.20082 and <= 19.008.20081 · >= 17.011.30056 and <= 17.011.30106 · >= 15.006.30060 and <= 15.006.30456 · >= 15.008.20082 and <= 19.008.20080 · >= 17.011.30056 and <= 17.011.30105

Fixed in: newer than 19.008.20081

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 15.006.30060

1. Check installed version

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

2. UPGRADE to newer than 19.008.20081 (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.

3. If no update is available yet, DOWNGRADE to a release before 15.006.30060 (Debian / Ubuntu)

apt-cache madison acrobat-dc sudo apt install acrobat-dc=<VERSION_BEFORE_15.006.30060> sudo apt-mark hold acrobat-dc

3. If no update is available yet, DOWNGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

dnf --showduplicates list acrobat-dc sudo dnf downgrade acrobat-dc-<VERSION_BEFORE_15.006.30060> sudo dnf versionlock add acrobat-dc

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.

adobe acrobat reader dc UPGRADE

Affected: >= 15.006.30060 and <= 15.006.30457 · >= 15.008.20082 and <= 19.008.20081 · >= 17.011.30059 and <= 17.011.30106 · >= 15.006.30060 and <= 15.006.30456 · >= 15.008.20082 and <= 19.008.20080 · >= 17.011.30059 and <= 17.011.30105

Fixed in: newer than 19.008.20081

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 15.006.30060

1. Check installed version

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

2. UPGRADE to newer than 19.008.20081 (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.

3. If no update is available yet, DOWNGRADE to a release before 15.006.30060 (Debian / Ubuntu)

apt-cache madison acrobat-reader-dc sudo apt install acrobat-reader-dc=<VERSION_BEFORE_15.006.30060> sudo apt-mark hold acrobat-reader-dc

3. If no update is available yet, DOWNGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

dnf --showduplicates list acrobat-reader-dc sudo dnf downgrade acrobat-reader-dc-<VERSION_BEFORE_15.006.30060> sudo dnf versionlock add acrobat-reader-dc

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.

adobe reader DOWNGRADE

Affected: 11.0.10 · 11.0.23

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 11.0.10

1. Check installed version

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

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE to a release before 11.0.10 (Debian / Ubuntu)

apt-cache madison reader sudo apt install reader=<VERSION_BEFORE_11.0.10> sudo apt-mark hold reader

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

dnf --showduplicates list reader sudo dnf downgrade reader-<VERSION_BEFORE_11.0.10> sudo dnf versionlock add 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.

iskysoft pdf editor 6 DOWNGRADE

Affected: 6.4.2.3521 · 6.6.2.3315 · 6.7.6.3399

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 6.4.2.3521

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy pdf-editor-6 || rpm -q pdf-editor-6 || pdf-editor-6 --version

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE to a release before 6.4.2.3521 (Debian / Ubuntu)

apt-cache madison pdf-editor-6 sudo apt install pdf-editor-6=<VERSION_BEFORE_6.4.2.3521> sudo apt-mark hold pdf-editor-6

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

dnf --showduplicates list pdf-editor-6 sudo dnf downgrade pdf-editor-6-<VERSION_BEFORE_6.4.2.3521> sudo dnf versionlock add pdf-editor-6

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.

iskysoft pdfelement6 DOWNGRADE

Affected: 6.8.0.3523 · 6.8.4.3921 · 6.7.1.3355 · 6.7.6.3399

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 6.7.1.3355

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy pdfelement6 || rpm -q pdfelement6 || pdfelement6 --version

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE to a release before 6.7.1.3355 (Debian / Ubuntu)

apt-cache madison pdfelement6 sudo apt install pdfelement6=<VERSION_BEFORE_6.7.1.3355> sudo apt-mark hold pdfelement6

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

dnf --showduplicates list pdfelement6 sudo dnf downgrade pdfelement6-<VERSION_BEFORE_6.7.1.3355> sudo dnf versionlock add pdfelement6

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-2018-16042?

acrobat dc: upgrade to newer than 19.008.20081; acrobat reader dc: upgrade to newer than 19.008.20081; reader: downgrade or apply the listed mitigation. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Is CVE-2018-16042 being exploited?

CVE-2018-16042 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-2018-16042 affect?

CVE-2018-16042 affects acrobat dc, acrobat reader dc, reader. Severity is medium (CVSS 6.5). Adobe Acrobat and Reader versions 2019.008.20081 and earlier, 2019.008.20080 and earlier, 2019.008.20081 and earlier, 2017.011.30106 and earlier version, 2017.011.30105 and earlier version, 2015.006.30457 and earlier, and 2015.006.30456 and

How urgent is CVE-2018-16042?

Priority 53/100. EPSS top 1%: very likely to be exploited; Remotely exploitable, no login, no user action

Software pages

Adobe Acrobat vulnerabilities · Adobe Reader vulnerabilities

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References

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