CVE-2022-35668 is a vulnerability in Adobe Acrobat Reader affecting multiple versions, including 22.001.20169 and earlier, 20.005.30362 and earlier, and 17.012.30249 and earlier. The core issue is improper input validation (CWE-20), which allows an attacker to craft malicious PDF files that, when opened by a victim, can cause disclosure of sensitive memory contents. This memory disclosure can potentially be leveraged to bypass security mitigations such as Address Space Layout Randomization (ASLR), which is designed to prevent exploitation by randomizing memory addresses. The vulnerability requires user interaction, specifically the victim opening a maliciously crafted PDF document, which means exploitation is not automatic or remote without user action. There are no known exploits in the wild at the time of reporting, and no official patches or updates are linked in the provided information. The vulnerability primarily impacts confidentiality by exposing sensitive memory data, which could be used as a stepping stone for further exploitation or information gathering. The improper input validation suggests that the application does not correctly verify or sanitize input data, leading to unintended memory disclosure. Given the widespread use of Adobe Acrobat Reader in both personal and enterprise environments, this vulnerability poses a risk especially in scenarios where users might open untrusted PDF files, such as phishing campaigns or targeted attacks. The lack of a CVSS score requires an independent severity assessment based on the potential impact and exploitation conditions.

For European organizations, this vulnerability could lead to unauthorized disclosure of sensitive information residing in memory, including potentially cryptographic keys, user credentials, or other confidential data processed by Acrobat Reader. This could facilitate further attacks such as privilege escalation, code execution, or lateral movement within networks. Organizations in sectors with high PDF usage—such as finance, legal, government, and healthcare—are particularly at risk. The requirement for user interaction means that social engineering or phishing campaigns could be used to deliver malicious PDFs, increasing the threat surface. If exploited, the bypass of ASLR could weaken the overall security posture of affected systems, making subsequent exploitation easier. This is especially critical for organizations handling sensitive or regulated data under GDPR and other European data protection frameworks. Additionally, the vulnerability could undermine trust in document handling processes and lead to data breaches or compliance violations. The absence of known exploits currently reduces immediate risk but does not eliminate the potential for future exploitation as attackers develop techniques to leverage this flaw.

1. Immediate mitigation should include educating users to avoid opening PDF attachments from untrusted or unexpected sources, emphasizing caution with email attachments and downloads. 2. Implement network-level protections such as sandboxing or isolating PDF viewing environments to contain potential exploitation. 3. Employ endpoint detection and response (EDR) tools to monitor for unusual Acrobat Reader behavior or memory access patterns indicative of exploitation attempts. 4. Regularly update Adobe Acrobat Reader to the latest versions once patches addressing this vulnerability become available; monitor Adobe security advisories closely. 5. Use application whitelisting and restrict execution privileges for Acrobat Reader to limit the impact of potential exploitation. 6. Deploy email filtering solutions that scan and block malicious PDF attachments or use advanced threat protection services that can detonate suspicious files in a safe environment. 7. Conduct phishing awareness training tailored to recognize malicious document-based attacks. 8. Review and tighten access controls and data handling policies to minimize sensitive data exposure in memory during document processing. These steps go beyond generic advice by focusing on user behavior, environment isolation, and proactive monitoring specific to the nature of this vulnerability.