CVE-2025-27158 is a vulnerability identified in Adobe Acrobat Reader versions 24.001.30225, 20.005.30748, 25.001.20428, and earlier. The flaw stems from an access of an uninitialized pointer (CWE-824), a condition where the software reads memory that has not been properly initialized, potentially leading to unpredictable behavior. In this case, it can be exploited to execute arbitrary code within the context of the current user. The attack vector requires the victim to open a maliciously crafted PDF file, which triggers the vulnerability. The CVSS 3.1 score of 7.8 indicates a high impact with local attack vector (AV:L), low attack complexity (AC:L), no privileges required (PR:N), and user interaction required (UI:R). The scope is unchanged (S:U), and the impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability is high (C:H/I:H/A:H). Although no known exploits are reported in the wild yet, the vulnerability poses a significant risk due to the widespread use of Acrobat Reader for PDF viewing worldwide. The vulnerability could allow attackers to run arbitrary code, potentially leading to data theft, system compromise, or further malware deployment. The lack of available patches at the time of disclosure increases the urgency for defensive measures.

The vulnerability enables attackers to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the current user, which can lead to full compromise of the affected system if the user has administrative rights. This can result in data theft, installation of persistent malware, lateral movement within networks, and disruption of business operations. Since Acrobat Reader is widely used globally, the potential attack surface is large. Organizations relying heavily on PDF documents for communication and documentation are particularly at risk. The requirement for user interaction reduces the risk of automated mass exploitation but does not eliminate targeted attacks, especially spear-phishing campaigns. The high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability means that successful exploitation could severely damage organizational security posture and data privacy.

1. Apply security patches from Adobe immediately once they become available for the affected versions. 2. Until patches are released, restrict the use of Acrobat Reader to trusted documents only and educate users about the risks of opening PDFs from unknown or untrusted sources. 3. Implement application whitelisting and sandboxing techniques to limit the ability of malicious code to execute or affect other system components. 4. Use endpoint detection and response (EDR) tools that can identify suspicious behaviors associated with exploitation attempts, such as unusual memory access patterns or code injection. 5. Employ network-level protections such as email filtering and attachment scanning to block malicious PDFs before they reach end users. 6. Consider deploying alternative PDF readers with a better security track record or reduced attack surface in sensitive environments. 7. Monitor security advisories from Adobe and threat intelligence feeds for updates on exploit availability and additional mitigation guidance.