Assessment
Why it matters
CISA lists this vulnerability as known to be exploited; exploitation is confirmed; EPSS is 86.6%; technical severity is CVSS 8.8.
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.
Who should care
- Teams operating Acrobat, Acrobat and Reader, Acrobat Reader
- Vulnerability and exposure management teams
- Security operations teams monitoring exploitation activity
Response plan
What I would do
- Confirm whether Acrobat, Acrobat and Reader, Acrobat Reader is present in the environment.
- Identify affected versions and establish whether vulnerable services are exposed or reachable.
- Adobe Security patch APSB09-15
- Review relevant security telemetry for evidence of attempted or successful exploitation.
- Document the remediation decision and track it to verified completion.
Treatment intelligence
Remediation intelligence
Vendor sources are listed before government and third-party guidance. Confirm product applicability and change prerequisites before deployment.
Verification noteAutomated link verification has not completed for this guidance yet.
Advisory
Technical details
- CVSS vector
- CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
- CWE
- CWE-119
- Affected versions
- Adobe Acrobat (Start Including 7.0, End Excluding 7.1.4 | Start Including 8.0, End Excluding 8.1.7 | Start Including 9.0, End Excluding 9.2); Adobe Acrobat and Reader; Adobe Acrobat Reader (Start Including 7.0, End Excluding 7.1.4 | Start Including 8.0, End Excluding 8.1.7 | Start Including 9.0, End Excluding 9.2)
- Fixed versions
- Adobe Acrobat (Fixed from 7.1.4, 8.1.7, 9.2); Adobe Acrobat Reader (Fixed from 7.1.4, 8.1.7, 9.2)
- Published
- 13 October 2009
- Attack vector
- Network
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- Required
Signal timeline
- CVE published
- Added to CISA KEV
- Latest EPSS score: 86.6%
- Signal calculated at 82
External references
- CISA Government advisory CVE-2009-3459
- Isc Sans Technical reference
- Secunia Technical reference
- Securitytracker Technical reference
- Iss Technical reference
- Securityfocus Technical reference
- Us Cert Government advisory TA09 286B
- Vupen Technical reference
- Vupen Technical reference
- Exchange Xforce Ibmcloud Third-party advisory
- Oval Cisecurity Technical reference Oval%3Aorg.mitre.oval%3Adef%3A6534