---
title: "CVE-2009-3459: Adobe Acrobat and Reader Heap-Based Buffer Overflow Vulnerability"
url: https://erroneo.us/security/cve/CVE-2009-3459/
description: "CVE-2009-3459 (Adobe Acrobat and Reader): Exploited in the wild (CISA KEV). Heap-based buffer overflow in Adobe Reader and Acrobat 7.x before 7.1.4, 8.x…"
type: vulnerability-record
section: "Security Digest"
date_published: 2009-10-13
date_modified: 2026-05-21
publisher: erroneo.us
author: erroneo.us Security Desk
cve: "CVE-2009-3459"
kev: true
cvss: 8.8
epss: 0.86646
license: All rights reserved. Quote with attribution and a link.
---

# CVE-2009-3459: Adobe Acrobat and Reader Heap-Based Buffer Overflow Vulnerability

**Signal:** Exploited: patch now if you run it. CISA has confirmed exploitation in the wild. (Computed from CISA KEV, EPSS and CVSS; not an editorial verdict.)

## Should you act?

- Yes, if you run Adobe Acrobat and Reader. CISA added this CVE to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on 2026-05-20, which means there is reliable evidence of exploitation in the wild. US federal agencies must remediate by 2026-06-03 ; treat that as the outer limit, not the target.
- EPSS 86.6% , percentile 99.7: FIRST’s model estimates a 86.6% chance of exploitation activity in the next 30 days, higher than 99.7% of all scored CVEs (very high). EPSS is a probability, not a verdict.
- Needs a user to click or open something. Phishing makes that realistic, but it is not wormable.

## What it is

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.

## Affected products (CVE record)

- n/a n/a: see advisory

## Severity

- CISA-ADP CVSS 3.1: 8.8 `CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`

## Exploitation

- CISA KEV: added 2026-05-20; federal due date 2026-06-03. Known ransomware use: Unknown.
- CISA required action: Apply mitigations per vendor instructions, follow applicable BOD 22-01 guidance for cloud services, or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable.
- CISA SSVC assessment: exploitation active , automatable no , technical impact total .
- FIRST EPSS (model of 2026-10-21): 86.65% probability of exploitation activity in the next 30 days; percentile 99.7.

## Sources

- [Listed in CISA KEV notes (web.archive.org)](https://web.archive.org/web/20120324170253/http://www.adobe.com/support/security/bulletins/apsb09-15.html#:~:text=CVE%2D2009%2D3459)
- [CVE.org record CVE-2009-3459](https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2009-3459)
- [NVD entry CVE-2009-3459](https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2009-3459)
- [CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog entry](https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2009-3459)
- [Listed in CISA KEV notes (cisa.gov)](https://www.cisa.gov/news-events/alerts/2009/10/13/adobe-reader-and-acrobat-vulnerabilities)
- [36983](http://secunia.com/advisories/36983)
- [oval:org.mitre.oval:def:6534](https://oval.cisecurity.org/repository/search/definition/oval%3Aorg.mitre.oval%3Adef%3A6534)
- [TA09-286B](http://www.us-cert.gov/cas/techalerts/TA09-286B.html)
- [1023007](http://securitytracker.com/id?1023007)
- [adobe.com](http://www.adobe.com/support/security/bulletins/apsb09-15.html)
- [20091009 Adobe Acrobat and Acrobat Reader Remote Code Execution](http://www.iss.net/threats/348.html)
- [ADV-2009-2851](http://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2009/2851)
- [isc.sans.org](http://isc.sans.org/diary.html?storyid=7300)
- [blogs.adobe.com](http://blogs.adobe.com/psirt/2009/10/adobe_reader_and_acrobat_issue_1.html)
- [36600](http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/36600)
- [ADV-2009-2898](http://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2009/2898)
- [adobe-reader-pdf-code-execution(53691)](https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/53691)

---
Source page: https://erroneo.us/security/cve/CVE-2009-3459/ · Security Digest: https://erroneo.us/security/ · More: https://erroneo.us/llms.txt