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.
do firstApply mitigations per vendor instructions, follow applicable BOD 22-01 guidance for cloud services, or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable.
Can a WAF block it? No. The attack requires opening a crafted PDF file, which means the malicious input is delivered through a local file rather than an HTTP request. Therefore, a web application firewall cannot filter or block this attack.
Also consider: patch
Based on an AI reading of the CVE description, and no vendor rule found yet. We check Cloudflare, AWS, Google Cloud Armor and Azure; for Akamai, Imperva, Fastly, F5, ask your vendor.
Is CVE-2009-3459 being exploited?
Yes. CVE-2009-3459 appears in CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog, which means exploitation in the wild has been confirmed and reported. Treat it as active rather than theoretical, and patch it ahead of higher-scoring vulnerabilities that carry no exploitation evidence.
How severe is CVE-2009-3459?
CVE-2009-3459 is rated High with a CVSS score of 8.8. Severity describes how bad exploitation would be, not how likely it is: pair it with exploitation evidence before deciding what to patch first.
Is there a patch for CVE-2009-3459?
Yes. A fix has been recorded for CVE-2009-3459. The vendor advisory is the authority on the exact fixed version — apply it from there rather than from a summary.
What does CVE-2009-3459 affect?
CVE-2009-3459 affects adobe:acrobat, adobe:acrobat_reader. Confirm the exact affected versions against the vendor advisory before deciding you are exposed.
Exploitation status reflects CISA's KEV catalog as we last synced it. Check the catalog directly.
public exploits
Public exploit code: 2 on Exploit-DB · 2 Metasploit modules
- Adobe - FlateDecode Stream Predictor 02 Integer Overflow (Metasploit) (2) · local · 25 Sept 2010 · verified
- Adobe - FlateDecode Stream Predictor 02 Integer Overflow (Metasploit) (1) · local · 20 Sept 2010 · verified
- exploit/windows/browser/adobe_flatedecode_predictor02 · exploit · good
- exploit/windows/fileformat/adobe_flatedecode_predictor02 · exploit · good
Listed so you can judge urgency, not as a recommendation to run anything. GitHub “proofs of concept” are unvetted: some are fake or carry malware. Exploit-DB marks the entries its staff verified.
cisa ssvc
- exploitation
- active
- automatable
- no
- technical impact
- total
Assessed by CISA 20 May 2026 (SSVC 2.0.3).
timeline
- 13 Oct 2009Published
- 20 Sept 2010First public exploit or proof of concept · 342 days (about 11 months) later
- 20 May 2026Added to CISA KEV (exploited in the wild) · 5,721 days (about 16 years) later
- 20 May 2026CISA SSVC assessment: exploitation active · same day later
- 21 May 2026CVE record last updated · 1 day later
- 3 Jun 2026CISA remediation due date (US federal agencies) · 13 days later
- 2 Nov 2026Analysed by vulneraibility.com · 153 days (about 5 months) later
- Advisorysecunia.com /advisories/36983
- Advisoryus-cert.gov /cas/techalerts/TA09-286B.html
- Advisoryiss.net /threats/348.html
- Linkoval.cisecurity.org /repository/search/definition/oval%3Aorg.mitre.oval%3Adef%3A6534
- Linksecuritytracker.com /id?1023007
- Linkadobe.com /support/security/bulletins/apsb09-15.html
- Linkvupen.com /english/advisories/2009/2851
- Linkisc.sans.org /diary.html?storyid=7300
Show 5 more
- Linkblogs.adobe.com /psirt/2009/10/adobe_reader_and_acrobat_issue_1.html
- Linksecurityfocus.com /bid/36600
- Linkvupen.com /english/advisories/2009/2898
- Linkexchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com /vulnerabilities/53691
- Linkcisa.gov /known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2009-3459
sources
- CVE List (CVE.org): description, affected versions, references; CVE Terms of Use
- NVD: CVSS and CPE data
- CISA KEV catalog: exploitation, date added, due date
- CISA Vulnrichment (ADP): SSVC decision points
- FIRST EPSS: exploit probability and percentile
- Exploit-DB: published exploits
- Metasploit Framework: exploit and scanner modules
- Summary, impact and triage tags: written by our AI analysis pipeline from the sources above. Check them against the sources.