CVE-2025-43579 is an information exposure vulnerability identified in multiple versions of Adobe Acrobat Reader, specifically versions 24.001.30235, 20.005.30763, 25.001.20521 and earlier. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-200, which pertains to the exposure of sensitive information to unauthorized actors. This flaw allows an attacker to bypass security features within Acrobat Reader, potentially gaining unauthorized access to sensitive data. Notably, exploitation of this vulnerability does not require user interaction, increasing the risk of automated or remote attacks. The CVSS 3.1 base score is 5.5, indicating a medium severity level. The vector string (CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N) reveals that the attack requires local access (AV:L), low attack complexity (AC:L), no privileges required (PR:N), but does require user interaction (UI:R), and impacts confidentiality with high severity (C:H) while integrity and availability remain unaffected. The vulnerability's root cause is an information exposure that leads to a security feature bypass, which could allow attackers to access sensitive information stored or processed by Acrobat Reader. There are no known exploits in the wild at the time of publication, and no patches have been linked yet, indicating that organizations should be vigilant and prepare for remediation once updates become available. Given Acrobat Reader's widespread use for viewing and managing PDF documents, this vulnerability poses a significant risk, especially in environments where sensitive documents are handled.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-43579 could be substantial due to the prevalent use of Adobe Acrobat Reader across various sectors including government, finance, healthcare, and legal industries. Unauthorized exposure of sensitive information could lead to data breaches, regulatory non-compliance (e.g., GDPR violations), and loss of intellectual property or confidential business information. Since the vulnerability allows bypassing security features without requiring elevated privileges, attackers with local access could exploit this flaw to extract sensitive data from user systems. The requirement for user interaction somewhat limits remote exploitation but does not eliminate risk, especially in environments where users might be tricked into opening malicious PDFs. The absence of known exploits currently provides a window for proactive defense, but the medium severity rating suggests that the vulnerability should be addressed promptly to prevent potential escalation or use in targeted attacks. The confidentiality impact is high, which is critical for organizations handling personal data or classified information, making this vulnerability a notable concern for European entities subject to strict data protection laws.

1. Monitor Adobe's official security advisories closely and apply patches immediately once they become available to remediate CVE-2025-43579. 2. Implement application whitelisting and restrict the execution of untrusted or unsolicited PDF files, especially from external sources. 3. Employ endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions to monitor for suspicious activities related to Acrobat Reader processes. 4. Educate users on the risks of opening PDFs from unknown or untrusted sources to reduce the likelihood of triggering the vulnerability. 5. Use sandboxing or isolated environments for opening PDFs in high-risk scenarios to contain potential exploitation. 6. Regularly audit and limit local access permissions on systems where sensitive documents are handled to reduce the attack surface. 7. Consider alternative PDF viewers with a lower attack surface in sensitive environments until patches are applied. 8. Deploy network-level controls to detect and block malicious payloads or anomalous PDF file traffic where feasible.