CVE-2009-3459
Adobe Acrobat and Reader Heap-Based Buffer Overflow Vulnerability
Does this matter?
Known to be exploited in the wild (CISA KEV, CISA remediation deadline 3 June 2026). Treat as an emergency change: patch or isolate now, then hunt for prior compromise.
Description
Heap-based buffer overflow in Adobe Reader and Acrobat 7.x before 7.1.4, 8.x before 8.1.7, and 9.x before 9.2 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted PDF file that triggers memory corruption, as exploited in the wild in October 2009. NOTE: some of these details are obtained from third party information.
- CVSS 3.1
- 8.8 HIGHCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
- EPSS
- 86.58% probability · 100th percentile
- CISA KEV
- Listed 20 May 2026 · due 3 June 2026
- Weakness
- CWE-119, CWE-122
- Affected
- adobe/acrobat · adobe/acrobat reader
- Source
- psirt@adobe.com
CISA notes
Apply mitigations per vendor instructions, follow applicable BOD 22-01 guidance for cloud services, or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable. https://www.cisa.gov/news-events/alerts/2009/10/13/adobe-reader-and-acrobat-vulnerabilities ; https://web.archive.org/web/20120324170253/http://www.adobe.com/support/security/bulletins/apsb09-15.html#:~:text=CVE%2D2009%2D3459).-,NOTE%3A,-There%20are%20reports ; https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2009-3459
References
- http://blogs.adobe.com/psirt/2009/10/adobe_reader_and_acrobat_issue_1.htmlBroken Link, Vendor Advisory
- http://isc.sans.org/diary.html?storyid=7300Not Applicable
- http://secunia.com/advisories/36983Vendor Advisory
- http://securitytracker.com/id?1023007Broken Link
- http://www.adobe.com/support/security/bulletins/apsb09-15.htmlPatch, Vendor Advisory
- http://www.iss.net/threats/348.htmlBroken Link
- http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/36600Broken Link
- http://www.us-cert.gov/cas/techalerts/TA09-286B.htmlUS Government Resource
- http://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2009/2851Vendor Advisory
- http://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2009/2898Vendor Advisory
- https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/53691Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
- https://oval.cisecurity.org/repository/search/definition/oval%3Aorg.mitre.oval%3Adef%3A6534Broken Link
- http://blogs.adobe.com/psirt/2009/10/adobe_reader_and_acrobat_issue_1.htmlBroken Link, Vendor Advisory
- http://isc.sans.org/diary.html?storyid=7300Not Applicable
- http://secunia.com/advisories/36983Vendor Advisory
- http://securitytracker.com/id?1023007Broken Link
- http://www.adobe.com/support/security/bulletins/apsb09-15.htmlPatch, Vendor Advisory
- http://www.iss.net/threats/348.htmlBroken Link
- http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/36600Broken Link
- http://www.us-cert.gov/cas/techalerts/TA09-286B.htmlUS Government Resource
- http://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2009/2851Vendor Advisory
- http://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2009/2898Vendor Advisory
- https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/53691Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
- https://oval.cisecurity.org/repository/search/definition/oval%3Aorg.mitre.oval%3Adef%3A6534Broken Link
- https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2009-3459US Government Resource
Source: NVD record, EPSS from FIRST.org, KEV from CISA. Refreshed daily.