What is CVE-2009-3459?
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.
The record classifies CVE-2009-3459 under weakness classes CWE-119, CWE-122. Its CVSS v3 base vector states that the flaw is reachable remotely over the network, needs no prior authentication, needs a user to take an action first, and has high impact on confidentiality, integrity, availability. 2 affected-product entries are recorded, across 1 vendor, listed below. The identifier was first published 6224 days ago.
Severity and exploitation probability
- CVSS v3.1 base score
- 8.8 — HIGH
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - EPSS (FIRST)
- 86.5% probability of exploitation in the next 30 days, higher than 99.7% of all scored CVEs
- CISA KEV
- Listed since 2026-05-20, federal remediation deadline 2026-06-03 — used in known ransomware campaigns
- Threadlinqs priority
- 10/10 — CISA lists it as used in ransomware, which Threadlinqs scores at the maximum
- Published
- 2009-10-13, last modified 2026-05-21
Is CVE-2009-3459 being exploited?
CISA added CVE-2009-3459 to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on 2026-05-20, which means the agency holds evidence of exploitation in the wild; US federal civilian agencies had to remediate it by 2026-06-03 under BOD 22-01. CISA flags the vulnerability as one used in known ransomware campaigns. Weaponised exploit code for CVE-2009-3459 is publicly available. 1 public proof-of-concept repository is tracked for this identifier. It currently carries a trending score of 48 in the Threadlinqs vulnerability feed.
- trickest/cve (trickest)
Affected products and versions
- Adobe: Acrobat, Acrobat Reader
How to fix CVE-2009-3459
The record marks a vendor fix as available for CVE-2009-3459. Patch reference: http://www.adobe.com/support/security/bulletins/apsb09-15.html. Vendor advisory: http://blogs.adobe.com/psirt/2009/10/adobe_reader_and_acrobat_issue_1.html. Because CVE-2009-3459 is KEV-listed, US federal civilian agencies were required to apply the vendor fix, or stop using the product, by 2026-06-03. Apply the vendor fix referenced above to every affected product listed in this record, then confirm the running version against the vendor advisory.
Threat activity tracking CVE-2009-3459
1 tracked threat in the Threadlinqs corpus references CVE-2009-3459, either in the campaign’s CVE list or as an indicator on the campaign record.
Sources
Enriched from CVE.org, FIRST EPSS, CISA KEV, public proof-of-concept repositories. Last verified by Threadlinqs on .
Vendor advisory and patch
Third-party advisory
- secunia.com — third party advisory
- oval.cisecurity.org — vdb entry
- us-cert.gov — third party advisory
- iss.net — third party advisory
Vulnerability database entry
- securitytracker.com — vdb entry
- vupen.com — vdb entry
- securityfocus.com — vdb entry
- vupen.com — vdb entry (2898)
- exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com — vdb entry