Adobe Acrobat Reader up to 8.2.4 ActiveX Control gp.ocx memory corruption

CVSS Meta Temp Score
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CTI Interest Score
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5.7$0-$5k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability labeled as critical has been found in Adobe Acrobat Reader. The affected element is an unknown function of the file gp.ocx of the component ActiveX Control. Such manipulation leads to memory corruption. This vulnerability is referenced as CVE-2009-3958. It is possible to launch the attack remotely. Furthermore, an exploit is available. The affected component should be upgraded.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Adobe Acrobat Reader (Document Reader Software) and classified as critical. Affected by this issue is an unknown part of the file gp.ocx of the component ActiveX Control. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a memory corruption vulnerability. Using CWE to declare the problem leads to CWE-119. The product performs operations on a memory buffer, but it can read from or write to a memory location that is outside of the intended boundary of the buffer. Impacted is confidentiality, integrity, and availability. CVE summarizes:

Multiple stack-based buffer overflows in the NOS Microsystems getPlus Helper ActiveX control before 1.6.2.49 in gp.ocx in the Download Manager in Adobe Reader and Acrobat 9.x before 9.3, and 8.x before 8.2 on Windows and Mac OS X, might allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via unspecified initialization parameters.

The weakness was published 01/13/2010 (Website). The advisory is available at us-cert.gov. This vulnerability is handled as CVE-2009-3958. The attack may be launched remotely. No form of authentication is required for exploitation. Successful exploitation requires user interaction by the victim. Technical details as well as a public exploit are known.

The exploit is available at exploit-db.com. It is declared as proof-of-concept. As 0-day the estimated underground price was around $25k-$100k. The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 43875 (Adobe Acrobat < 9.3 / 8.2 Multiple Vulnerabilities (APSB10-02)), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment. It is assigned to the family Windows. The commercial vulnerability scanner Qualys is able to test this issue with plugin 116768 (Adobe Reader and Acrobat Vulnerability (APSA09-07, APSB10-02)).

Upgrading to version 9.0 eliminates this vulnerability. Furthermore it is possible to detect and prevent this kind of attack with TippingPoint and the filter 9479.

The vulnerability is also documented in the databases at Exploit-DB (11172), Tenable (43875), SecurityFocus (BID 37759†), SecurityTracker (ID 1023446†) and Vulnerability Center (SBV-24629†). Similar entries are available at VDB-4072, VDB-51531, VDB-51529 and VDB-51528. If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.

Productinfo

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CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 6.3
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 5.7

VulDB Base Score: 6.3
VulDB Temp Score: 5.7
VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv2info

AVACAuCIA
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VectorComplexityAuthenticationConfidentialityIntegrityAvailability
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VulDB Base Score: 🔍
VulDB Temp Score: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

NVD Base Score: 🔍

Exploitinginfo

Class: Memory corruption
CWE: CWE-119
CAPEC: 🔍
ATT&CK: 🔍

Physical: No
Local: No
Remote: Yes

Availability: 🔍
Access: Public
Status: Proof-of-Concept
Download: 🔍

EPSS Score: 🔍
EPSS Percentile: 🔍

Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔍

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Nessus ID: 43875
Nessus Name: Adobe Acrobat < 9.3 / 8.2 Multiple Vulnerabilities (APSB10-02)
Nessus File: 🔍
Nessus Risk: 🔍
Nessus Family: 🔍

OpenVAS ID: 800427
OpenVAS Name: Adobe Reader/Acrobat Multiple Vulnerabilities - Jan10 (Win)
OpenVAS File: 🔍
OpenVAS Family: 🔍

Qualys ID: 🔍
Qualys Name: 🔍

Exploit-DB: 🔍

Threat Intelligenceinfo

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

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔍

Upgrade: Acrobat Reader 9.0
Suricata ID: 2010665
Suricata Class: 🔍
Suricata Message: 🔍

TippingPoint: 🔍

McAfee IPS: 🔍
McAfee IPS Version: 🔍

PaloAlto IPS: 🔍
Fortigate IPS: 🔍

Timelineinfo

11/16/2009 🔍
01/13/2010 +58 days 🔍
01/13/2010 +0 days 🔍
01/13/2010 +0 days 🔍
01/19/2010 +6 days 🔍
03/18/2015 +1884 days 🔍
11/02/2025 +3882 days 🔍

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: adobe.com

Advisory: us-cert.gov
Status: Confirmed
Confirmation: 🔍

CVE: CVE-2009-3958 (🔍)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2009-3958
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-51530

OVAL: 🔍

CERT: 🔍
X-Force: 55556
SecurityFocus: 37759
SecurityTracker: 1023446
Vulnerability Center: 24629 - [APSB10-02] Adobe Acrobat Prior to 9.3 Remote Arbitrary Code Execution via the Download Manager, High

scip Labs: https://www.scip.ch/en/?labs.20161013
See also: 🔍

Entryinfo

Created: 03/18/2015 15:15
Updated: 11/02/2025 17:32
Changes: 03/18/2015 15:15 (40), 04/07/2017 10:45 (29), 08/31/2021 08:29 (3), 08/31/2021 08:30 (7), 08/31/2021 08:34 (1), 01/25/2025 22:24 (19), 11/02/2025 17:32 (11)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216:458:103

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