Zero-day vulnerability in Adobe Reader

Heap-based buffer overflow
CVE-2009-3459

Known malware:

PDF/Exploit.CVE-2009-3459.A

Vulnerability details

Advisory: SB2009100801 - Remote code execution in Adobe Acrobat and Adobe Reader

Vulnerable component: Adobe Reader

CVE-ID: CVE-2009-3459

CVSSv3 score: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:H/RL:O/RC:C

CWE-ID: CWE-119 - Memory corruption

Description:

The vulnerability allows a remote attacker to execute arbitrary code on the target system.

The weakness exists due to heap-based buffer overflow when processing a malformed PDF file. A remote attacker can create a specially crafted .pdf file, trick the victim into opening it, trigger memory corruption and execute arbitrary code on the target system with privileges of the current user.

Successful exploitation of the vulnerability results in arbitrary code execution on the vulnerable system.

Public Exploits:

- Adobe - FlateDecode Stream Predictor 02 Integer Overflow (Metasploit) (2) [Exploit-DB]

- Adobe - FlateDecode Stream Predictor 02 Integer Overflow (Metasploit) (1) [Exploit-DB]

External links:

http://www.adobe.com/support/security/bulletins/apsb09-15.html
https://isc.sans.edu/diary/New+Adobe+Vulnerability+Exploited+in+Targeted+Attacks/7300
http://www.enigmasoftware.com/adobe-reader-vulnerability-cve-2009-3459-allows-hackers-insert-backdoo...
https://vulners.com/metasploit/MSF:EXPLOIT/WINDOWS/BROWSER/ADOBE_FLATEDECODE_PREDICTOR02
http://temerc.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=7821
http://www.rationallyparanoid.com/articles/emet-testing.html
https://media.blackhat.com/bh-eu-10/presentations/Li_Lovet/BlackHat-EU-2010-Li-Lovet-Adobe-Heap-slid...
https://blog.didierstevens.com/2009/10/13/update-pdfid-version-0-0-9-to-detect-another-adobe-0day/
http://blog.trendmicro.com/trendlabs-security-intelligence/new-adobe-zero-day-exploit/
https://blog.fortinet.com/2009/10/19/on-the-recent-pdf-exploit

About zero-day vulnerabilities

Zero-day vulnerability is an undisclosed vulnerability in software that hackers can exploit to compromise computer programs, gain unauthorized access to sensitive data, penetrate networks, etc. We consider vulnerability a zero-day when there is no solution provided from software vendor and the vulnerability is being actively exploited by malicious actors.

Zero-day candidate is a potential zero-day vulnerability in software which might have been used in targeted attacks, however there is no evidence to support this suggestion.