Is CVE-2009-3459 being actively exploited?

Yes. CVE-2009-3459 is listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, added on May 20, 2026.

What is the CVSS score for CVE-2009-3459?

CVE-2009-3459 has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 8.8 (HIGH).

CVE-2009-3459

HIGH · CVSS 8.8CISA KEV: actively exploitedEPSS 86.5%EU EUVD: exploited

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.

Key facts

CVSS score: 8.8 (v3.1)
Severity: HIGH
CVSS vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Weakness (CWE): CWE-119
EPSS score: 86.5% (100th percentile)
In CISA KEV: Yes, added May 20, 2026
In EU EUVD: Yes (EUVD-2009-3441)
Published: October 13, 2009
NVD last modified: June 16, 2026
Status: Analyzed

CISA Known Exploited Vulnerability

Adobe Acrobat and Reader Heap-Based Buffer Overflow Vulnerability

Added to the KEV catalog on May 20, 2026; federal remediation due June 3, 2026.

EU Vulnerability Database (EUVD)

This vulnerability is also tracked by ENISA as EUVD-2009-3441 in the EU Vulnerability Database. ENISA flags it as known exploited. Last updated in EUVD on May 21, 2026.

View on the EU Vulnerability Database

Affected products

adobe / acrobat
adobe / acrobat reader

References

http://blogs.adobe.com/psirt/2009/10/adobe_reader_and_acrobat_issue_1.html(Broken Link, Vendor Advisory)
http://isc.sans.org/diary.html?storyid=7300(Not Applicable)
http://secunia.com/advisories/36983(Vendor Advisory)
http://securitytracker.com/id?1023007(Broken Link)
http://www.adobe.com/support/security/bulletins/apsb09-15.html(Patch, Vendor Advisory)
http://www.iss.net/threats/348.html(Broken Link)
http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/36600(Broken Link)
http://www.us-cert.gov/cas/techalerts/TA09-286B.html(US Government Resource)
http://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2009/2851(Vendor Advisory)
http://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2009/2898(Vendor Advisory)
https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/53691(Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry)
https://oval.cisecurity.org/repository/search/definition/oval%3Aorg.mitre.oval%3Adef%3A6534(Broken Link)
https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2009-3459(US Government Resource)

Last updated September 17, 2026 · Source: NVD, CISA KEV, FIRST.org EPSS

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