CVE-2009-3459
Detail
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.
Metrics
CVSS Version 4.0
CVSS Version 3.x
CVSS Version 2.0
NVD enrichment efforts reference publicly available information to associate
vector strings. CVSS information contributed by other sources is also
displayed.
CVSS 4.0 Severity and Vector Strings:
NVD assessment
not yet provided.
CVSS 3.x Severity and Vector Strings:
NVD assessment
not yet provided.
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
CVSS 2.0 Severity and Vector Strings:
Vector:
(AV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C)
References to Advisories, Solutions, and Tools
By selecting these links, you will be leaving NIST webspace.
We have provided these links to other web sites because they
may have information that would be of interest to you. No
inferences should be drawn on account of other sites being
referenced, or not, from this page. There may be other web
sites that are more appropriate for your purpose. NIST does
not necessarily endorse the views expressed, or concur with
the facts presented on these sites. Further, NIST does not
endorse any commercial products that may be mentioned on
these sites. Please address comments about this page to [email protected]
URL
Source(s)
Tag(s)
http://blogs.adobe.com/psirt/2009/10/adobe_reader_and_acrobat_issue_1.html
Adobe Systems Incorporated, CVE
Broken Link
Vendor Advisory
http://isc.sans.org/diary.html?storyid=7300
Adobe Systems Incorporated, CVE
Not Applicable
http://secunia.com/advisories/36983
Adobe Systems Incorporated, CVE
Vendor Advisory
http://securitytracker.com/id?1023007
Adobe Systems Incorporated, CVE
Broken Link
http://www.adobe.com/support/security/bulletins/apsb09-15.html
Adobe Systems Incorporated, CVE
Patch
Vendor Advisory
http://www.iss.net/threats/348.html
Adobe Systems Incorporated, CVE
Broken Link
http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/36600
Adobe Systems Incorporated, CVE
Broken Link
http://www.us-cert.gov/cas/techalerts/TA09-286B.html
Adobe Systems Incorporated, CVE
US Government Resource
http://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2009/2851
Adobe Systems Incorporated, CVE
Vendor Advisory
http://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2009/2898
Adobe Systems Incorporated, CVE
Vendor Advisory
https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/53691
Adobe Systems Incorporated, CVE
Third Party Advisory
VDB Entry
https://oval.cisecurity.org/repository/search/definition/oval%3Aorg.mitre.oval%3Adef%3A6534
Adobe Systems Incorporated, CVE
Broken Link
https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2009-3459
CISA-ADP
US Government Resource
This CVE is in CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog
Reference
CISA's BOD 22-01 and Known
Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog for further guidance and requirements.
Vulnerability Name
Date Added
Due Date
Required Action
Adobe Acrobat and Reader Heap-Based Buffer Overflow Vulnerability
05/20/2026
06/03/2026
Apply mitigations per vendor instructions, follow applicable BOD 22-01 guidance for cloud services, or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable.
Weakness Enumeration
CWE-ID
CWE Name
Source
CWE-119
Improper Restriction of Operations within the Bounds of a Memory Buffer
NIST
CWE-122
Heap-based Buffer Overflow
CISA-ADP
Change History
13 change records found show changes
CVE Modified by CISA-ADP
6/16/2026 7:11:38 PM
Action
Type
Old Value
New Value
Added
SSVC
{"timestamp":"2026-05-20T00:00:00+00:00","id":"CVE-2009-3459","options":[{"exploitation":"active"},{"automatable":"no"},{"technicalImpact":"total"}],"role":"CISA Coordinator","version":"2.0.3"}
CVE Modified by Adobe Systems Incorporated
6/16/2026 7:11:38 PM
Action
Type
Old Value
New Value
Added
Affected
[{"vendor":"n/a","product":"n/a","versions":[{"version":"n/a","status":"affected"}]}]
Modified Analysis by NIST
5/21/2026 8:56:49 AM
Action
Type
Old Value
New Value
Changed
CPE Configuration
Record truncated, showing 2048 of 2212 characters.
View Entire Change Record OR
*cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat:8.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
*cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat:3.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
*cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat:8.1.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
*cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat:5.0.10:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
*cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat:4.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
*cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat:9.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
*cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat:6.0.5:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
*cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat:7.0.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
*cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat:3.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
*cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat:7.0.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
*cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat:7.0.8:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
*cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat:8.1.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
*cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat:8.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
*cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat:7.0.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
*cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat:9:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
*cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat:4.0.5c:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
*cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat:4.0.5a:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
*cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat:5.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
*cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat:6.0.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
*cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat:7.0.7:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
*cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat:9.1.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
*cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat:7.1.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
*cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat:8.1.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
*cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat:5.0.5:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
*cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat:6.0.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
*cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* versions up to (including) 9.1.3
*cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat:6.0.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
*cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat:7.0.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
*cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat:4.0.5:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
*cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat:7.0.5:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
*cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat:7.0.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
*cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat:9.0.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
*cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat:9.1.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
*cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat:7.0.9:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
*cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat:8.1.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
*cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat:6.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
*cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat:5.0.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:
OR
*cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* versions from (including) 7.0 up to (excluding) 7.1.4
*cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* versions from (including) 8.0 up to (excluding) 8.1.7
*cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* versions from (including) 9.0 up to (excluding) 9.2
Changed
CPE Configuration
Record truncated, showing 2048 of 2077 characters.
View Entire Change Record OR
*cpe:2.3:a:adobe:reader:7.0.7:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
*cpe:2.3:a:adobe:reader:8.1.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
*cpe:2.3:a:adobe:reader:7.0.5:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
*cpe:2.3:a:adobe:reader:5.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
*cpe:2.3:a:adobe:reader:4.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
*cpe:2.3:a:adobe:reader:7.1.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
*cpe:2.3:a:adobe:reader:4.5:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
*cpe:2.3:a:adobe:reader:5.0.11:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
*cpe:2.3:a:adobe:reader:7.0.8:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
*cpe:2.3:a:adobe:reader:5.0.9:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
*cpe:2.3:a:adobe:reader:9.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
*cpe:2.3:a:adobe:reader:4.0.5c:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
*cpe:2.3:a:adobe:reader:5.0.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
*cpe:2.3:a:adobe:reader:9.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
*cpe:2.3:a:adobe:reader:8.1.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
*cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat_reader:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* versions up to (including) 9.0
*cpe:2.3:a:adobe:reader:9.1.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
*cpe:2.3:a:adobe:reader:7.1.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
*cpe:2.3:a:adobe:reader:6.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
*cpe:2.3:a:adobe:reader:7.0.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
*cpe:2.3:a:adobe:reader:5.0.10:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
*cpe:2.3:a:adobe:reader:6.0.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
*cpe:2.3:a:adobe:reader:4.0.5a:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
*cpe:2.3:a:adobe:reader:6.0.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
*cpe:2.3:a:adobe:reader:5.0.5:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
*cpe:2.3:a:adobe:reader:3.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
*cpe:2.3:a:adobe:reader:8.1.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
*cpe:2.3:a:adobe:reader:7.0.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
*cpe:2.3:a:adobe:reader:6.0.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
*cpe:2.3:a:adobe:reader:7.0.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
*cpe:2.3:a:adobe:reader:7.0.9:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
*cpe:2.3:a:adobe:reader:7.1.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
*cpe:2.3:a:adobe:reader:5.0.7:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
*cpe:2.3:a:adobe:reader:8.1.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
*cpe:2.3:a:adobe:reader:4.0.5:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
*cpe:2.3:a:adobe:reader:6.0.5:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
*cpe:2.3:a:adobe:reader:5.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
*cpe:2.3:a:ado
OR
*cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat_reader:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* versions from (including) 7.0 up to (excluding) 7.1.4
*cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat_reader:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* versions from (including) 8.0 up to (excluding) 8.1.7
*cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat_reader:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* versions from (including) 9.0 up to (excluding) 9.2
Changed
Reference Type
Adobe Systems Incorporated: http://blogs.adobe.com/psirt/2009/10/adobe_reader_and_acrobat_issue_1.html Types: Vendor Advisory
Adobe Systems Incorporated: http://blogs.adobe.com/psirt/2009/10/adobe_reader_and_acrobat_issue_1.html Types: Broken Link, Vendor Advisory
Changed
Reference Type
CVE: http://blogs.adobe.com/psirt/2009/10/adobe_reader_and_acrobat_issue_1.html Types: Vendor Advisory
CVE: http://blogs.adobe.com/psirt/2009/10/adobe_reader_and_acrobat_issue_1.html Types: Broken Link, Vendor Advisory
Added
Reference Type
Adobe Systems Incorporated: http://isc.sans.org/diary.html?storyid=7300 Types: Not Applicable
Added
Reference Type
Adobe Systems Incorporated: http://securitytracker.com/id?1023007 Types: Broken Link
Added
Reference Type
Adobe Systems Incorporated: http://www.iss.net/threats/348.html Types: Broken Link
Added
Reference Type
Adobe Systems Incorporated: http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/36600 Types: Broken Link
Added
Reference Type
Adobe Systems Incorporated: https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/53691 Types: Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
Added
Reference Type
Adobe Systems Incorporated: https://oval.cisecurity.org/repository/search/definition/oval%3Aorg.mitre.oval%3Adef%3A6534 Types: Broken Link
Added
Reference Type
CISA-ADP: https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2009-3459 Types: US Government Resource
Added
Reference Type
CVE: http://isc.sans.org/diary.html?storyid=7300 Types: Not Applicable
Added
Reference Type
CVE: http://securitytracker.com/id?1023007 Types: Broken Link
Added
Reference Type
CVE: http://www.iss.net/threats/348.html Types: Broken Link
Added
Reference Type
CVE: http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/36600 Types: Broken Link
Added
Reference Type
CVE: https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/53691 Types: Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
Added
Reference Type
CVE: https://oval.cisecurity.org/repository/search/definition/oval%3Aorg.mitre.oval%3Adef%3A6534 Types: Broken Link
CVE CISA KEV Update by Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) U.S. Civilian Government
5/20/2026 3:00:00 PM
Action
Type
Old Value
New Value
Added
Date Added
2026-05-20
Added
Due Date
2026-05-20
Added
Required Action
2026-05-20
Added
Vulnerability Name
2026-05-20
CVE Modified by CISA-ADP
5/20/2026 2:16:25 PM
Action
Type
Old Value
New Value
Added
CVSS V3.1
AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Added
CWE
CWE-122
Added
Reference
https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2009-3459
CVE Status Change
4/22/2026 8:35:47 PM
Action
Type
Old Value
New Value
CVE Modified by CVE
11/20/2024 8:07:24 PM
Action
Type
Old Value
New Value
Added
Reference
http://blogs.adobe.com/psirt/2009/10/adobe_reader_and_acrobat_issue_1.html
Added
Reference
http://isc.sans.org/diary.html?storyid=7300
Added
Reference
http://secunia.com/advisories/36983
Added
Reference
http://securitytracker.com/id?1023007
Added
Reference
http://www.adobe.com/support/security/bulletins/apsb09-15.html
Added
Reference
http://www.iss.net/threats/348.html
Added
Reference
http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/36600
Added
Reference
http://www.us-cert.gov/cas/techalerts/TA09-286B.html
Added
Reference
http://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2009/2851
Added
Reference
http://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2009/2898
Added
Reference
https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/53691
Added
Reference
https://oval.cisecurity.org/repository/search/definition/oval%3Aorg.mitre.oval%3Adef%3A6534
CVE Modified by Adobe Systems Incorporated
5/13/2024 10:10:34 PM
Action
Type
Old Value
New Value
CPE Deprecation Remap by NIST
10/30/2018 12:25:17 PM
Action
Type
Old Value
New Value
Changed
CPE Configuration
OR
*cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat:8.0.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
OR
*cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat:8.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
CPE Deprecation Remap by NIST
10/30/2018 12:25:42 PM
Action
Type
Old Value
New Value
Changed
CPE Configuration
OR
*cpe:2.3:a:adobe:reader:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* versions from (including) 9.1.3
OR
*cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat_reader:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* versions from (including) 9.0
CVE Modified by Adobe Systems Incorporated
9/18/2017 9:29:37 PM
Action
Type
Old Value
New Value
Added
Reference
https://oval.cisecurity.org/repository/search/definition/oval%3Aorg.mitre.oval%3Adef%3A6534 [No Types Assigned]
Removed
Reference
http://oval.mitre.org/repository/data/getDef?id=oval:org.mitre.oval:def:6534 [No Types Assigned]
CVE Modified by Adobe Systems Incorporated
8/16/2017 9:31:07 PM
Action
Type
Old Value
New Value
Added
Reference
https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/53691 [No Types Assigned]
Removed
Reference
http://xforce.iss.net/xforce/xfdb/53691 [No Types Assigned]
Initial CVE Analysis
10/13/2009 11:49:00 AM
Action
Type
Old Value
New Value
Quick Info
CVE Dictionary Entry: CVE-2009-3459 NVD
Published Date: 10/13/2009 NVD
Last Modified: 06/16/2026
Source: Adobe Systems Incorporated
) or https:// means you've safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.
