CVE-2009-3459

HIGH KEV

Adobe Acrobat < 9.1.3 - Remote Code Execution via Crafted PDF File

Title source: llm
STIX 2.1

Exploitation Summary

CVE-2009-3459 is actively exploited and listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, added May 20, 2026. EIP tracks 4 public exploits from researchers including Metasploit, unknown, jduck, jabra, unknown, jduck, including a Metasploit module exploits/windows/browser/adobe_flatedecode_predictor02.

AI-analyzed exploit summary This exploit leverages an integer overflow vulnerability in Adobe Reader and Acrobat Professional versions before 9.2 via a malformed FlateDecode stream with a Predictor value of 02. It uses JavaScript heap spraying to achieve remote code execution.

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.

Exploits (4)

exploitdb WORKING POC VERIFIED
by Metasploit · rubylocalwindows
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/16652

This exploit leverages an integer overflow vulnerability in Adobe Reader and Acrobat Professional versions before 9.2 via a malformed FlateDecode stream with a Predictor value of 02. It uses JavaScript heap spraying to achieve remote code execution.

Classification
Working Poc 95%
Attack Type
Rce
Complexity
Moderate
Reliability
Reliable
Target: Adobe Reader and Acrobat Professional < 9.2
No auth needed
Prerequisites: Target must open the malicious PDF file
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 16, 2026 Full analysis →
exploitdb WORKING POC VERIFIED
by Metasploit · rubylocalwindows
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/16546

This exploit leverages an integer overflow vulnerability in Adobe Reader and Acrobat Professional versions before 9.2 via a maliciously crafted PDF file with a FlateDecode stream. It uses JavaScript heap spraying to achieve remote code execution.

Classification
Working Poc 100%
Attack Type
Rce
Complexity
Moderate
Reliability
Reliable
Target: Adobe Reader and Acrobat Professional < 9.2
No auth needed
Prerequisites: Target must open the malicious PDF file
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 16, 2026 Full analysis →
metasploit WORKING POC GOOD
by unknown, jduck, jabra · rubypocwin
https://github.com/rapid7/metasploit-framework/blob/master/modules/exploits/windows/browser/adobe_flatedecode_predictor02.rb

This Metasploit module exploits an integer overflow vulnerability in Adobe Reader and Acrobat Professional versions before 9.2 via a maliciously crafted PDF file. It uses JavaScript heap spraying and a FlateDecode stream with a manipulated Predictor value to achieve remote code execution.

Classification
Working Poc 100%
Attack Type
Rce
Complexity
Moderate
Reliability
Reliable
Target: Adobe Reader and Acrobat Professional < 9.2
No auth needed
Prerequisites: Victim must open the malicious PDF file
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 19, 2026 Full analysis →
metasploit WORKING POC GOOD
by unknown, jduck · rubypocwin
https://github.com/rapid7/metasploit-framework/blob/master/modules/exploits/windows/fileformat/adobe_flatedecode_predictor02.rb

This Metasploit module exploits an integer overflow vulnerability in Adobe Reader and Acrobat Professional versions before 9.2 via a maliciously crafted PDF file. It uses JavaScript heap spraying and a FlateDecode stream with a manipulated Predictor value to achieve remote code execution.

Classification
Working Poc 95%
Attack Type
Rce
Complexity
Moderate
Reliability
Reliable
Target: Adobe Reader and Acrobat Professional < 9.2
No auth needed
Prerequisites: Target must open the malicious PDF file
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 16, 2026 Full analysis →

References (13)

Core 13
Core References
Vendor Advisory third-party-advisory x_refsource_secunia
http://secunia.com/advisories/36983
Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry vdb-entry signature x_refsource_oval
https://oval.cisecurity.org/repository/search/definition/oval%3Aorg.mitre.oval%3Adef%3A6534
US Government Resource third-party-advisory x_refsource_cert
http://www.us-cert.gov/cas/techalerts/TA09-286B.html
Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry vdb-entry x_refsource_sectrack
http://securitytracker.com/id?1023007
Patch, Vendor Advisory x_refsource_confirm
http://www.adobe.com/support/security/bulletins/apsb09-15.html
Third Party Advisory third-party-advisory x_refsource_iss
http://www.iss.net/threats/348.html
Vendor Advisory vdb-entry x_refsource_vupen
http://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2009/2851
Various Sources x_refsource_misc
http://isc.sans.org/diary.html?storyid=7300
Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry vdb-entry x_refsource_bid
http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/36600
Vendor Advisory vdb-entry x_refsource_vupen
http://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2009/2898
Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry vdb-entry x_refsource_xf
https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/53691

Scores

CVSS v3 8.8
EPSS 0.8807
EPSS Percentile 99.5%
Attack Vector NETWORK
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

CISA SSVC

Vulnrichment
Exploitation active
Automatable no
Technical Impact total

Details

CISA KEV 2026-05-20
VulnCheck KEV 2009-10-13
InTheWild.io 2018-10-30
ENISA EUVD EUVD-2009-3441
CWE
CWE-119 CWE-122
Status published
Products (50)
adobe/acrobat 3.0
adobe/acrobat 3.1
adobe/acrobat 4.0
adobe/acrobat 4.0.5
adobe/acrobat 4.0.5a
adobe/acrobat 4.0.5c
adobe/acrobat 5.0
adobe/acrobat 5.0.5
adobe/acrobat 5.0.6
adobe/acrobat 5.0.10
... and 40 more
Published Oct 13, 2009
KEV Added May 20, 2026
Tracked Since Feb 18, 2026