High severity · published Oct 13, 2009
CVE-2009-3459
Adobe Acrobat and Reader Heap-Based Buffer Overflow Vulnerability
In wildKEV
8.8
CVSS
86.6%
EPSS
Yes
On KEV
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 vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Attack vector
Network
Complexity
Low
Privileges
None
User interaction
Required
Confidentiality
High
Integrity
High
Availability
High
Scope
Unchanged
Exploitation
Is it being used?
Exploit prediction (EPSS)86.6% · higher than 100% of CVEs
Exploited in the wildYes
CISA KEVListed May 20, 2026
Federal remediation dueJun 3, 2026
Ransomware campaign useNot known
Affected products
Which versions
AC
Acrobat · Adobe
7.0 before 7.1.4; 8.0 before 8.1.7; 9.0 before 9.2 · source: NVD
AR
Acrobat Reader · Adobe
7.0 before 7.1.4; 8.0 before 8.1.7; 9.0 before 9.2 · source: NVD
AA
Acrobat and Reader · Adobe
All versions, or not specified · source: KEV
In the news
AdvisoryHigh
CISA Adds Seven Known Exploited Vulnerabilities to Catalog
CISA has added seven new vulnerabilities to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) Catalog , based on evidence of active exploitation. CVE-2008-4250 Microsoft Windows Buffer Overflow Vulnerability CVE-2009-1537 Microsoft DirectX NULL Byte Overwrite Vulnerability CVE-2009-3459 Adobe Acrobat and Reader Heap-Based Buffer Overflow Vulnerability CVE-2010-0249 Microsoft Internet Explorer Use-After-Free Vulnerability CVE-2010-0806 Microsoft Internet Explorer Use-After-Free Vulnerability CVE-2026-41091 Microsoft Defender Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability CVE-2026-45498 Microsoft Defender Denial of Service Vulnerability These types of vulnerabilities are frequent attack vectors for malicious cyber actors and pose significant risks to the federal enterprise. Binding Operational Directive (BOD) 22-01: Reducing the Significant Risk of Known Exploited Vulnerabilities established the KEV Catalog as a living list of known Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVEs) that carry significant risk to the federal enterprise. BOD 22-01 requires Federal Civilian Executive Branch (FCEB) agencies to remediate identified vulnerabilities by the due date to protect FCEB networks against active threats. See the BOD 22-01 Fact Sheet for more information. Although BOD 22-01 only applies to FCEB agencies, CISA strongly urges all organizations to reduce their exposure to cyberattacks by prioritizing timely remediation of KEV Catalog vulnerabilities as part o...
May 20, 2026·CISA Advisories
VulnerabilityHigh
[CISA KEV] CVE-2009-3459: Adobe Acrobat and Reader - Adobe Acrobat and Reader Heap-Based Buffer Overflow Vulnerability
Adobe Acrobat and Reader contain a heap-based buffer overflow vulnerability which could allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted PDF file that triggers memory corruption.
AAAcrobat and ReaderCVE-2009-3459
May 20, 2026·CISA KEV