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 exe
Noroxi assessment
Priority: Now (action score 91/100)
- CISA has confirmed exploitation in the wild (May 20, 2026). Remediation deadline for US federal agencies: Jun 3, 2026.
- A ready-made attack module is public (Metasploit); exploiting it takes no special expertise.
- Probability of exploitation in the next 30 days: 86.5% (FIRST EPSS); higher than 99.7% of all records.
- Anyone who can reach it over the internet 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.
- Fixed version: acroread (Red Hat:rhel_extras:3) 0:8.1.7-1; acroread-plugin (Red Hat:rhel_extras:3) 0:8.1.7-1; acroread (Red Hat:rhel_extras:4) 0:8.1.7-1.el4.
Patch today or shut off access. Upgrade to acroread (Red Hat:rhel_extras:3) 0:8.1.7-1; acroread-plugin (Red Hat:rhel_extras:3) 0:8.1.7-1; acroread (Red Hat:rhel_extras:4) 0:8.1.7-1.el4 or later.
Generated automatically from the record's data: CVSS (NVD and CNA), CISA KEV and SSVC, FIRST EPSS, exploit sources, fixed versions. How we calculate it
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.
- Published
- Oct 13, 2009
- Updated
- Jun 16, 2026
- EPSS
- 86.6% · 100th percentile
- CWE
- CWE-119
Report tools
Action score
91
Now
Patch today or shut off access.
- CVSS
- 35 / 40 · 8.8 / 10
- CISA KEV
- 30 / 30 · Listed
- EPSS
- 26 / 30 · 86.6%
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 May 20, 2026. That signals real attacks, not theory.
Remediation deadline for government agencies: Jun 3, 2026.
Get told when this record changes
- In CISA KEV: exploitation in the wild confirmed
- Weaponized exploit exists
- A fix has been released
If any of these changes, we'll tell you in the daily email digest.
Is your version affected? Check itNoroxi analysis
What does it mean in your environment?
The assessment above is generated automatically from the record's data; it doesn't know your environment. Our team verifies on your systems whether this vulnerability is actually exploitable and which mitigation is enough.
We use this product, ask for helpAffected systems
Is your version affected?
Pick the product and type the version you run. It's compared with this record's version ranges in your browser; the version isn't sent anywhere.
| Vendor | Product | CPE |
|---|---|---|
| adobe | acrobat | cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat |
| adobe | acrobat reader | cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat_reader |
Affected versions
NVD version ranges (for catalog products). Add the product to your stack with a version and matching uses these.
- adobe acrobat7.0 and later · before 7.1.4
- adobe acrobat8.0 and later · before 8.1.7
- adobe acrobat9.0 and later · before 9.2
- adobe acrobat reader7.0 and later · before 7.1.4
- adobe acrobat reader8.0 and later · before 8.1.7
- adobe acrobat reader9.0 and later · before 9.2
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 0:8.1.7-1 | 0:8.1.7-1 |
| Red Hat:rhel_extras:3 | acroread-plugin | before 0:8.1.7-1 | 0:8.1.7-1 |
| Red Hat:rhel_extras:4 | acroread | before 0:8.1.7-1.el4 | 0:8.1.7-1.el4 |
| Red Hat:rhel_extras:4 | acroread-plugin | before 0:8.1.7-1.el4 | 0:8.1.7-1.el4 |
| Red Hat:rhel_extras:5::client | acroread | before 0:8.1.7-1.el5 | 0:8.1.7-1.el5 |
| Red Hat:rhel_extras:5::client | acroread-plugin | before 0:8.1.7-1.el5 | 0:8.1.7-1.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-2008-2992Stack-based buffer overflow in Adobe Acrobat and Reader 8.1.2 and earlier allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a PDF file tKEV91Now
- 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 | 0:8.1.7-1 · Red Hat:rhel_extras:3 | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:acroread-plugin | 0:8.1.7-1 · 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 ×2
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 | 2010-09-20 |
| Exploit-DB entry | local | 2010-09-25 |
| Metasploit module | exploit/windows/browser/adobe_flatedecode_predictor02Adobe FlateDecode Stream Predictor 02 Integer Overflowexploit | 2009-10-08 |
| Metasploit module | exploit/windows/fileformat/adobe_flatedecode_predictor02Adobe FlateDecode Stream Predictor 02 Integer Overflowexploit | 2009-10-08 |
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-5 d
- Published
- First PoC+342 d
- CISA KEV+6063 d
- TodayOct 12, 2026+6209 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
No known public program.
Source: bounty-targets-data (public HackerOne, Bugcrowd, Intigriti, YesWeHack listings).
Technical details
Attack conditions
- Anyone who can reach it over the internet 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
- Network
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- Required
- Scope
- Unchanged
- Confidentiality impact
- High
- Integrity impact
- High
- Availability impact
- High
Weakness class (CWE)
CWE-119 · Improper Restriction of Operations within the Bounds of a Memory BufferCVSS vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
nvd-secondary
Attack context
MITRE CAPEC attack patterns and ATT&CK techniques for this weakness class (CWE). A starting point for detection rules and threat hunting.
Attack patterns (CAPEC)
- Buffer Overflow via Environment VariablesCAPEC-10likelihood: High · High
- Overflow BuffersCAPEC-100likelihood: High · Very High
- Buffer ManipulationCAPEC-123likelihood: High · Very High
- Client-side Injection-induced Buffer OverflowCAPEC-14likelihood: Medium · High
- Filter Failure through Buffer OverflowCAPEC-24likelihood: High · High
- MIME ConversionCAPEC-42likelihood: High · High
- Overflow Binary Resource FileCAPEC-44likelihood: High · Very High
- Buffer Overflow via Symbolic LinksCAPEC-45likelihood: High · High
ATT&CK techniques
—
Change log
- Fix✗ → ✓
For records you follow, these changes also arrive as notifications. →
References
- blogs.adobe.com/psirt/2009/10/adobe_reader_and_acrobat_issue_1.html
- isc.sans.org/diary.html?storyid=7300
- secunia.com/advisories/36983
- securitytracker.com/id?1023007
- www.adobe.com/support/security/bulletins/apsb09-15.html
- www.iss.net/threats/348.html
- www.securityfocus.com/bid/36600
- www.us-cert.gov/cas/techalerts/TA09-286B.html
- www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2009/2851
- www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2009/2898
- exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/53691
- oval.cisecurity.org/repository/search/definition/oval%3Aorg.mitre.oval%3Adef%3A6534
- www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2009-3459
Vendor advisories and official records. Exploit/PoC links are deliberately left out.