Stack-based buffer overflow in Adobe Acrobat and Reader 8.1.2 and earlier allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a PDF file t
Stack-based buffer overflow in Adobe Acrobat and Reader 8.1.2 and earlier allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a PDF file that calls the util.printf JavaScript function with a crafted format string argument, a related issue to CVE-2008-1104.
- Published
- Nov 4, 2008
- Updated
- Jun 16, 2026
- EPSS
- 98.5% · 100th percentile
- CWE
- CWE-787
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Report tools
Action score
91
Now
Patch today or shut off access.
- CVSS
- 31 / 40 · 7.8 / 10
- CISA KEV
- 30 / 30 · Listed
- EPSS
- 30 / 30 · 98.5%
CISA SSVC decision
- Exploitation
- active
- Automatable
- no
- Technical impact
- total
Vulnrichment: CISA's decision-tree inputs.
Actively exploited in the wild
CISA added this to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on Mar 3, 2022. That signals real attacks, not theory.
Remediation deadline for government agencies: Mar 24, 2022.
Known to be used in ransomware campaigns.
Affected systems
| Vendor | Product | CPE |
|---|---|---|
| adobe | acrobat | cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat |
| adobe | acrobat reader | cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat_reader |
| oracle | solaris | cpe:2.3:o:oracle:solaris |
Affected versions
NVD version ranges (for catalog products). Add the product to your stack with a version and matching uses these.
- adobe acrobatup to 8.1.2 inclusive
- adobe acrobat readerup to 8.1.2 inclusive
- oracle solaris10
Package-level exposure
OSV and GitHub Advisory data: ecosystem, package and range. SBOM matching uses this table.
| Ecosystem | Package | Affected range | Fix |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red Hat:rhel_extras:3 | acroread | before 0:8.1.3-1 | 0:8.1.3-1 |
| Red Hat:rhel_extras:3 | acroread-plugin | before 0:8.1.3-1 | 0:8.1.3-1 |
| Red Hat:rhel_extras:4 | acroread | before 0:8.1.3-1.el4 | 0:8.1.3-1.el4 |
| Red Hat:rhel_extras:4 | acroread-plugin | before 0:8.1.3-1.el4 | 0:8.1.3-1.el4 |
| Red Hat:rhel_extras:5::client | acroread | before 0:8.1.3-1.el5 | 0:8.1.3-1.el5 |
| Red Hat:rhel_extras:5::client | acroread-plugin | before 0:8.1.3-1.el5 | 0:8.1.3-1.el5 |
Same product
adobe: all recordsOther highest-scoring records for the same primary product.
- CVE-2011-2462Unspecified vulnerability in the U3D component in Adobe Reader and Acrobat 10.1.1 and earlier on Windows and Mac OS X, and Adobe Reader 9.x KEV96Now
- CVE-2013-3346Adobe Reader and Acrobat 9.x before 9.5.5, 10.x before 10.1.7, and 11.x before 11.0.03 allow attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a KEV93Now
- CVE-2021-21017Acrobat Reader DC Heap-based Buffer Overflow Vulnerability Could Lead To Arbitrary Code ExecutionKEV91Now
- CVE-2009-3459Heap-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 exeKEV91Now
- CVE-2009-3953The U3D implementation in Adobe Reader and Acrobat 9.x before 9.3, 8.x before 8.2 on Windows and Mac OS X, and 7.x before 7.1.4 allows remotKEV90Now
- CVE-2013-2729Integer overflow in Adobe Reader and Acrobat 9.x before 9.5.5, 10.x before 10.1.7, and 11.x before 11.0.03 allows attackers to execute arbitKEV89Now
Remediation
Which version to upgrade to
Fix versions compiled from the vendor, package registries and Microsoft. Verify the vendor's note before upgrading.
| Product / package | Fixed version | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Red Hat:acroread | 0:8.1.3-1 · Red Hat:rhel_extras:3 | Package registry (OSV) |
| Red Hat:acroread-plugin | 0:8.1.3-1 · Red Hat:rhel_extras:3 | Package registry (OSV) |
Exploit status
Weaponized
A ready exploit tool or active in-the-wild use is known for this vulnerability. This should be your top priority.
Evidence
- Metasploit module ×2
- Exploit-DB entry ×4
- Proof-of-concept repository on GitHub ×1
Noroxi does not host or link to exploit code. Metasploit module names and Nuclei template ids are shown (names, not code); Exploit-DB entries and PoC repositories are given as counts only.
| Source | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Exploit-DB entry | local | 2010-05-03 |
| Exploit-DB entry | local | 2010-09-25 |
| Exploit-DB entry | local | 2008-11-05 |
| Exploit-DB entry | local | 2008-11-05 |
| Metasploit module | exploit/windows/browser/adobe_utilprintfAdobe util.printf() Buffer Overflowexploit | 2008-02-08 |
| Metasploit module | exploit/windows/fileformat/adobe_utilprintfAdobe util.printf() Buffer Overflowexploit | 2008-02-08 |
| Proof-of-concept repository on GitHub | stars:0 | 2026-04-15 |
Research context
For pentesters and researchers: attack profile, score disagreement, timeline, patch commits, credits, variant and chain candidates, bug bounty scope. All derived from existing data; no exploit code.
Timeline
From publication to today: proof of concept, Metasploit module, CISA KEV and fix record. Dates are as reported by the sources.
- Metasploit-271 d
- Published
- First PoCsame day
- CISA KEV+4866 d
- TodaySep 29, 2026+6538 d
FIRST EPSS daily score; only changes of 0.01 or more are recorded (step chart).
Patch and commit links
Commit, PR and diff links among the references. A starting point for patch-diffing and variant hunting; fixes, not exploits.
No commit or PR link among the references.
Credits
All researchersFinders, reporters and analysts named in the CNA record. Click a name for that researcher’s other records.
No credits in the CNA record.
Variant candidates
Same product, same weakness class, within 18 months. If the patch missed the root cause, the sibling bug is here.
No nightly-computed relations.
Chain candidates
An authentication bypass and a privilege-requiring bug in the same product, published close together: combined they may become an unauthenticated path.
—
Bug bounty scope
The product’s vendor appears in a public program. Matched by name; verify the scope text in the program.
Technical details
Attack conditions
- Someone with local access to the system can trigger it.
- No account or password is required.
- A user must open a link or visit a page.
- No special conditions are required; it is repeatable.
If successful
- Confidentiality
- high · data can be read
- Integrity
- high · data or configuration can be modified
- Availability
- high · the service can be disrupted
- Attack vector
- Local
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- Required
- Scope
- Unchanged
- Confidentiality impact
- High
- Integrity impact
- High
- Availability impact
- High
Weakness class (CWE)
CWE-787 · Out-of-bounds WriteCVSS vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
nvd-primary
Attack context
MITRE CAPEC attack patterns and ATT&CK techniques for this weakness class (CWE). A starting point for detection rules and threat hunting.
MITRE has no CAPEC/ATT&CK mapping for this CWE.
Noroxi analysis
No Noroxi analysis for this record yet
We don't hand-write analysis for all 385,000+ vulnerabilities; that wouldn't be honest. For notable, high-impact vulnerabilities our team writes the mechanism, detection and remediation steps.
We use this product, ask for helpChange log
- Fix✗ → ✓
For records you follow, these changes also arrive as notifications. →
References
- download.oracle.com/sunalerts/1019937.1.html
- lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2008-11/msg00002.html
- osvdb.org/49520
- secunia.com/advisories/29773
- secunia.com/advisories/32700
- secunia.com/advisories/32872
- secunia.com/advisories/35163
- secunia.com/secunia_research/2008-14/
- support.nortel.com/go/main.jsp?cscat=BLTNDETAIL&id=800801
- support.nortel.com/go/main.jsp?cscat=BLTNDETAIL&id=909609
- www.adobe.com/support/security/bulletins/apsb08-19.html
- www.coresecurity.com/content/adobe-reader-buffer-overflow
- www.kb.cert.org/vuls/id/593409
- www.redhat.com/support/errata/RHSA-2008-0974.html
- www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/498027/100/0/threaded
- www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/498032/100/0/threaded
- www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/498055/100/0/threaded
- www.securityfocus.com/bid/30035
- www.securityfocus.com/bid/32091
- www.securitytracker.com/id?1021140
Vendor advisories and official records. Exploit/PoC links are deliberately left out.