What is CVE-2009-3459?A high-severity flaw criminals are using now.
CVE-2009-3459 is a high-severity flaw (CVSS 8.8) in Acrobat from Adobe, published on 13 October 2009. It is on the list of flaws known to be exploited, so criminals are already using it. The latest forecast puts its chance of use in the next 30 days at 87%. If you run an affected version, patch it first.
Published 13 October 2009. Record last updated 16 June 2026. We keep this page's data up to date.
What is CVE-2009-3459? In plain terms.
It can be attacked from anywhere on the internet without logging in, but a person has to take an action first. If it works, the attacker can read data, change data and take it offline.
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.
What kind of flaw is it?
- CWE-119Improper Restriction of Operations within the Bounds of a Memory Buffer
- CWE-122Heap-based Buffer Overflow
How an attack on it works
Read straight from its severity rating, translated out of the shorthand.
- Where an attacker can beAnywhere on the internet
- How hard it is to pull offEasy: no special conditions
- Login needed firstNo login needed
- Does someone have to clickYes, a person has to take an action
- What an attacker getsCan read data, change data and take it offline
Severity vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Is CVE-2009-3459 being exploited? Yes.
Attackers are already using it. It is on the government list of flaws known to be exploited, and the latest forecast puts the chance of it being used in the next 30 days at 87%.
Timeline
- Published
- Added to the known-exploited list
- Record last updated
CVE-2009-3459 scores 76. Action: Emergency patch.
We keep the score of every published flaw up to date as the evidence changes. Four things go into the score, and evidence that criminals are actually using it counts most. In order:
- Evidence it is being exploitedBiggest factor
- How severe it isStrong factor
- How widely exposed it isSmaller factor
- Threat activity around itSmaller factor
85 and above is Critical. Anything confirmed as exploited is always marked for an emergency patch, whatever its score.
When CVE-2009-3459 matches software you track, it lands in your list with its score and the reasons behind it.
See your own ranked list →Who is affected by CVE-2009-3459? 2 products.
The published record lists 2 products from 1 vendor. Versions are shown as published: "7.0 to before 7.1.4" means from 7.0 up to, but not including, 7.1.4. If you run one of these, check your version, then go to the fix below.
- Application
Acrobat
by Adobe
Affected versions7.0 to before 7.1.48.0 to before 8.1.79.0 to before 9.2 - Application
Acrobat Reader
by Adobe
Affected versions7.0 to before 7.1.48.0 to before 8.1.79.0 to before 9.2
How do I fix CVE-2009-3459? Four steps.
- Check whether you run itCompare your versions with the affected products above. Not sure what you run? Precursor Intelligence can work it out from your public website, or you can pick it from a list.
- Apply the vendor’s fixInstall the update named in the vendor’s advisory. We’ve put the advisories and patch notes first in the list.
- If you can’t patch todayFollow any mitigation the vendor publishes, and limit who can reach the affected system from the internet until the update is in.
- Check it wasn’t used before you patchedBecause criminals are already using this flaw, look for signs of a break-in on affected systems using the vendor’s guidance.
Does CVE-2009-3459 affect you? We'll keep checking.
Looking flaws up one at a time doesn't scale. Tell us what you run once, and we tell you which flaws matter to you, in what order, and keep watching for new ones.
- Tell us what you runPick your software from a list, or let us work it out from your website.
- We match it to every flawOver 400,000 published flaws, checked against your list.
- Ranked by real-world riskA 0 to 100 score, led by evidence criminals are using it.
- Told as soon as we knowAn alert by email, in the app or by webhook to your own tools.
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1 flaw being exploited affects software Acme tracks
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 co...
- Matched to
- Acrobat on Acme's software list
- What to do
- Patch first, then check for signs of use
Sent to the alert recipients Acme chose. Also in the app and to Acme's webhook.
CVE-2009-3459 is a high-severity flaw in Acrobat from Adobe, published on 13 October 2009. It can be attacked from anywhere on the internet without logging in, but a person has to take an action first. If it works, the attacker can read data, change data and take it offline.
It scores 8.8 out of 10 on the CVSS severity scale, which is high. Our risk score for CVE-2009-3459 is 76 out of 100, which is High. Its action is "Emergency patch". Attackers are using this flaw today. If you run an affected version, it goes to the top of your list.
Attackers are already using it. It is on the government list of flaws known to be exploited, and the latest forecast puts the chance of it being used in the next 30 days at 87%.
For Acrobat from Adobe: 7.0 to before 7.1.4, 8.0 to before 8.1.7, 9.0 to before 9.2. The record lists 2 products in all, each with its versions, under "Who is affected" on this page.
Install the update the vendor names in its advisory, linked first under "How do I fix" on this page. If you can't patch today, follow the vendor's mitigation and limit who can reach the affected system from the internet. Because criminals are already using it, also check affected systems for signs of a break-in.