Is CVE-2021-21797 actively exploited?

No active exploitation of CVE-2021-21797 has been confirmed so far. Continue monitoring, as exploit status can change.

Can CVE-2021-21797 be exploited remotely?

No. CVE-2021-21797 requires local access to exploit.

What is the CVSS score of CVE-2021-21797?

CVE-2021-21797 has a CVSS score of 7.8 (HIGH).

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HIGH

CVE-2021-21797

CWE-415Published: October 18, 2021· Updated: Jun 17, 2026

7.8

CVSS v3.1

Official Description

An exploitable double-free vulnerability exists in the JavaScript implementation of Nitro Pro PDF. A specially crafted document can cause a reference to a timeout object to be stored in two different places. When closed, the document will result in the reference being released twice. This can lead to code execution under the context of the application. An attacker can convince a user to open a document to trigger this vulnerability.

NVD Source

Technical Analysis

CVE-2021-21797 requires local access, meaning attackers must already have a foothold on the target system.

Exploitation does not require any privileges, though user interaction (Required) is needed, which slightly reduces the risk of mass automated attacks.

A successful exploit results in complete confidentiality breach (data exposure), full integrity compromise (data manipulation), availability disruption (denial of service), with a CVSS base score of 7.8.