CVE-2025-64899 is an out-of-bounds read vulnerability classified under CWE-125, affecting Adobe Acrobat Reader versions 24.001.30264, 20.005.30793, 25.001.20982, 24.001.30273, 20.005.30803, and earlier. The vulnerability occurs during the parsing of a crafted PDF file, where the software reads memory beyond the allocated buffer, potentially exposing sensitive data or enabling memory corruption. This memory corruption can be leveraged by an attacker to execute arbitrary code within the context of the current user. Exploitation requires that the victim opens a maliciously crafted PDF file, making user interaction necessary. The CVSS v3.1 base score of 7.8 reflects a high severity, with attack vector local (AV:L), low attack complexity (AC:L), no privileges required (PR:N), user interaction required (UI:R), unchanged scope (S:U), and high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability (C:H/I:H/A:H). Although no known exploits have been reported in the wild yet, the vulnerability poses a significant risk due to the widespread use of Acrobat Reader and the potential for code execution. The lack of patch links suggests that fixes may be pending or recently released, emphasizing the need for timely updates. This vulnerability is particularly dangerous in environments where users frequently open PDF documents from untrusted sources, as it can lead to system compromise or data breaches.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-64899 can be substantial. Adobe Acrobat Reader is widely used across enterprises, government agencies, and critical infrastructure sectors for document handling. Successful exploitation could allow attackers to execute arbitrary code, leading to unauthorized access, data theft, or disruption of services. Confidentiality is at risk as sensitive information could be exposed through memory reads. Integrity and availability could be compromised if attackers alter or disable systems. Given the requirement for user interaction, phishing campaigns or malicious document distribution are likely attack vectors. Sectors such as finance, healthcare, legal, and public administration, which rely heavily on PDF documents, are particularly vulnerable. The potential for lateral movement within networks exists if attackers gain initial footholds via this vulnerability. The absence of known exploits currently provides a window for proactive defense, but the high severity score underscores the urgency of mitigation.

1. Apply official Adobe patches immediately once available; monitor Adobe security advisories closely. 2. Implement strict email filtering and sandboxing to detect and block malicious PDF attachments before reaching end users. 3. Educate users about the risks of opening unsolicited or unexpected PDF files, emphasizing caution with email attachments and downloads. 4. Employ endpoint protection solutions with behavior-based detection to identify and block exploitation attempts. 5. Restrict user privileges to the minimum necessary to reduce the impact of potential code execution. 6. Use application whitelisting and exploit mitigation technologies such as Data Execution Prevention (DEP) and Address Space Layout Randomization (ASLR). 7. Monitor network and host logs for unusual activity indicative of exploitation attempts. 8. Consider disabling or limiting Acrobat Reader usage in environments where alternative PDF readers with better security posture are available. 9. Maintain regular backups and incident response plans to quickly recover from potential compromises.