CVE DATABASE / CVE-2009-3459
CVE-2009-3459
Adobe Acrobat and Reader Heap-Based Buffer Overflow Vulnerability
Confirmed exploited in the wild. Added 2026-05-20.
Federal remediation due 2026-06-03.
Required action: Apply mitigations per vendor instructions, follow applicable BOD 22-01 guidance for cloud services, or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable.
Summary
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 breakdown
| Base score | 8.8 (HIGH) |
| Vector | CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H |
| Attack vector | NETWORK |
| Attack complexity | LOW |
| Privileges required | NONE |
| User interaction | REQUIRED |
| Scope | UNCHANGED |
| Confidentiality | HIGH |
| Integrity | HIGH |
| Availability | HIGH |
Weakness type (CWE)
Affected products
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References
- http://blogs.adobe.com/psirt/2009/10/adobe_reader_and_acrobat_issue_1.html
- http://isc.sans.org/diary.html?storyid=7300
- http://secunia.com/advisories/36983
- http://securitytracker.com/id?1023007
- http://www.adobe.com/support/security/bulletins/apsb09-15.html
- http://www.iss.net/threats/348.html
- http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/36600
- http://www.us-cert.gov/cas/techalerts/TA09-286B.html
- http://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2009/2851
- http://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2009/2898
- https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/53691
- https://oval.cisecurity.org/repository/search/definition/oval%3Aorg.mitre.oval%3Adef%3A6534
- https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2009-3459
Data: NIST NVD + CISA KEV. NVD last modified 2026-05-21. Always verify against the vendor advisory before acting.