Adobe Acrobat Reader up to 8.2.4 input validation

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6.6	$0-$5k	0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability was found in Adobe Acrobat Reader. It has been rated as critical. This issue affects some unknown processing. Performing a manipulation results in input validation. This vulnerability is known as CVE-2009-2998. No exploit is available. Upgrading the affected component is advised.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Adobe Acrobat Reader (Document Reader Software). It has been classified as critical. This affects an unknown function. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a input validation vulnerability. CWE is classifying the issue as CWE-20. The product receives input or data, but it does not validate or incorrectly validates that the input has the properties that are required to process the data safely and correctly. This is going to have an impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The summary by CVE is:

Adobe Reader and Acrobat 7.x before 7.1.4, 8.x before 8.1.7, and 9.x before 9.2 do not properly validate input, which might allow attackers to execute arbitrary code via unspecified vectors, a different vulnerability than CVE-2009-3458.

The weakness was published 10/19/2009 by Stefano Di Paola with Apple Product Security (Website). The advisory is shared at us-cert.gov. This vulnerability is uniquely identified as CVE-2009-2998 since 08/27/2009. It is possible to initiate the attack remotely. No form of authentication is needed for exploitation. Neither technical details nor an exploit are publicly available.

It is declared as proof-of-concept. The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 42119 (Adobe Acrobat < 9.2 / 8.1.7 / 7.1.4 Multiple Vulnerabilities (APSB09-15)), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment. It is assigned to the family Windows and running in the context l. The commercial vulnerability scanner Qualys is able to test this issue with plugin 116635 (Adobe Reader and Acrobat Remote Code Execution Vulnerability (APSB09-15)).

Upgrading to version 9.0 eliminates this vulnerability. A possible mitigation has been published even before and not after the disclosure of the vulnerability. Furthermore it is possible to detect and prevent this kind of attack with TippingPoint and the filter 8658.

The vulnerability is also documented in the databases at Tenable (42119), SecurityFocus (BID 36638†), SecurityTracker (ID 1023007†) and Vulnerability Center (SBV-23805†). Similar entries are available at VDB-2793, VDB-4037, VDB-4041 and VDB-4039. Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.

Productinfo

Type

• Document Reader Software

Vendor

• Adobe

Name

• Acrobat Reader

Version

• 1.3
• 3.0
• 3.01
• 3.02
• 4.0
• 4.0.5
• 4.0.5a
• 4.0.5c
• 4.05
• 4.5
• 5.0
• 5.0.5
• 5.0.6
• 5.0.7
• 5.0.9
• 5.0.10
• 5.0.11
• 5.1
• 6.0
• 6.0.1
• 6.0.2
• 6.0.3
• 6.0.4
• 6.0.5
• 6.0.6
• 7.0
• 7.0.1
• 7.0.2
• 7.0.3
• 7.0.4
• 7.0.5
• 7.0.6
• 7.0.7
• 7.0.8
• 7.0.9
• 7.1.0
• 7.1.1
• 7.1.2
• 7.1.3
• 7.1.4
• 8
• 8.0
• 8.0.0
• 8.1
• 8.1.1
• 8.1.2
• 8.1.4
• 8.1.5
• 8.1.6
• 8.1.7
• 8.2
• 8.2.1
• 8.2.2
• 8.2.3
• 8.2.4

License

• free

Website

• Vendor: https://www.adobe.com/

CPE 2.3info

• 🔍
• 🔍
• 🔍

CPE 2.2info

• 🔍
• 🔍
• 🔍

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 7.3
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 6.6

VulDB Base Score: 7.3
VulDB Temp Score: 6.6
VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv2info

AV	AC	Au	C	I	A
💳	💳	💳	💳	💳	💳
💳	💳	💳	💳	💳	💳
💳	💳	💳	💳	💳	💳

Vector	Complexity	Authentication	Confidentiality	Integrity	Availability
Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock
Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock
Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock

VulDB Base Score: 🔍
VulDB Temp Score: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

NVD Base Score: 🔍

Exploitinginfo

Class: Input validation
CWE: CWE-20
CAPEC: 🔍
ATT&CK: 🔍

Physical: No
Local: No
Remote: Yes

Availability: 🔍
Status: Proof-of-Concept

EPSS Score: 🔍
EPSS Percentile: 🔍

Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔍

0-Day	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock
Today	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock

Nessus ID: 42119
Nessus Name: Adobe Acrobat < 9.2 / 8.1.7 / 7.1.4 Multiple Vulnerabilities (APSB09-15)
Nessus File: 🔍
Nessus Risk: 🔍
Nessus Family: 🔍
Nessus Context: 🔍

OpenVAS ID: 800958
OpenVAS Name: Adobe Reader Multiple Vulnerabilities - Oct09 (Linux)
OpenVAS File: 🔍
OpenVAS Family: 🔍

Qualys ID: 🔍
Qualys Name: 🔍

Threat Intelligenceinfo

Interest: 🔍
Active Actors: 🔍
Active APT Groups: 🔍

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔍

Upgrade: Acrobat Reader 9.0
TippingPoint: 🔍

McAfee IPS: 🔍
McAfee IPS Version: 🔍

Fortigate IPS: 🔍

Timelineinfo

08/27/2009 🔍
10/08/2009 +42 days 🔍
10/13/2009 +5 days 🔍
10/13/2009 +0 days 🔍
10/13/2009 +0 days 🔍
10/14/2009 +1 days 🔍
10/19/2009 +5 days 🔍
10/19/2009 +0 days 🔍
10/20/2009 +0 days 🔍
03/18/2015 +1975 days 🔍
06/14/2025 +3741 days 🔍

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: adobe.com

Advisory: us-cert.gov
Researcher: Stefano Di Paola
Organization: Apple Product Security
Status: Confirmed
Confirmation: 🔍

CVE: CVE-2009-2998 (🔍)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2009-2998
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-50505

OVAL: 🔍

SecurityFocus: 36638 - RETIRED: Adobe Reader and Acrobat October 2009 Multiple Remote Vulnerabilities
SecurityTracker: 1023007
Vulnerability Center: 23805 - [APSB09-15] Adobe Reader and Acrobat 7-7.1.3, 8- 8.1.6, and 9-9.1.3 Remote Code Execution Vulnerability, Medium
Vupen: ADV-2009-2898

See also: 🔍

Entryinfo

Created: 03/18/2015 15:15
Updated: 06/14/2025 18:50
Changes: 03/18/2015 15:15 (70), 10/16/2018 09:01 (13), 06/14/2025 18:50 (19)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.

Discussion

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