CVE-2026-80159: Acrobat Reader is affected by an Untrusted Search Path vulnerability that could result in privilege escalation

Routine

MEDIUM 4.0UPGRADEUPGRADEUPGRADE

CVE-2026-80159 is a medium-severity flaw (CVSS 4.0) 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.

Acrobat Reader is affected by an Untrusted Search Path vulnerability that could result in privilege escalation. An attacker with high privileges could leverage this vulnerability to gain elevated access. Exploit depends on conditions beyond the attacker's control. Exploitation of this issue requires user interaction in that a victim must open a malicious file.

Why this priority

No elevated risk signals yet

A fixed release or distro patch exists.

Risk facts

CVSS score	4.0 (Medium)
Attack vector	Local
Attack complexity	High
Privileges needed	High
User interaction	Required
EPSS exploit chance	0.2% (top 91%)
CISA exploited list	No
Weakness	CWE-426
Published	2026-09-08
Last modified	2026-09-10

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

Last updated 2026-09-10 · Sources: CVE Program, NVD, CISA KEV, EPSS and vendor advisories · How we score

Am I affected?

Timeline

2026-09-08 21:18 UTCPublished CVE record published
2026-09-10 21:17 UTCUpdated Record last modified

adobe acrobat UPGRADE

Affected: >= 24.001.20604 and < 24.001.30429

Fixed in: 24.001.30429

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 24.001.20604

1. Check installed version

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

2. UPGRADE to 24.001.30429 (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.

3. If no update is available yet, DOWNGRADE to a release before 24.001.20604 (Debian / Ubuntu)

apt-cache madison acrobat sudo apt install acrobat=<VERSION_BEFORE_24.001.20604> sudo apt-mark hold acrobat

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

dnf --showduplicates list acrobat sudo dnf downgrade acrobat-<VERSION_BEFORE_24.001.20604> 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.

adobe acrobat dc UPGRADE

Affected: >= 15.008.20082 and < 26.002.21901

Fixed in: 26.002.21901

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 15.008.20082

1. Check installed version

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

2. UPGRADE to 26.002.21901 (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 15.008.20082 (Debian / Ubuntu)

apt-cache madison acrobat-dc sudo apt install acrobat-dc=<VERSION_BEFORE_15.008.20082> 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_15.008.20082> 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: >= 15.008.20082 and < 26.002.21901

Fixed in: 26.002.21901

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 15.008.20082

1. Check installed version

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

2. UPGRADE to 26.002.21901 (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 15.008.20082 (Debian / Ubuntu)

apt-cache madison acrobat-reader-dc sudo apt install acrobat-reader-dc=<VERSION_BEFORE_15.008.20082> 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_15.008.20082> 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.

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-2026-80159?

acrobat: upgrade to 24.001.30429; acrobat dc: upgrade to 26.002.21901; acrobat reader dc: upgrade to 26.002.21901. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Is CVE-2026-80159 being exploited?

CVE-2026-80159 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-2026-80159 affect?

CVE-2026-80159 affects acrobat, acrobat dc, acrobat reader dc. Severity is medium (CVSS 4.0). Acrobat Reader is affected by an Untrusted Search Path vulnerability that could result in privilege escalation. An attacker with high privileges could leverage this vulnerability to gain elevated access. Exploit depends on conditions beyond

How urgent is CVE-2026-80159?

Priority 16/100. No elevated risk signals yet.

Software pages

Adobe Acrobat vulnerabilities

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References

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