CVE-2009-3953: Adobe Acrobat and Reader Universal 3D Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

Patch now

HIGH 8.8EXPLOITEDWATCHLISTUPGRADEDOWNGRADEMITIGATE

CVE-2009-3953 is a high-severity flaw (CVSS 8.8) affecting acrobat, linux enterprise debuginfo, opensuse, reported as exploited in the wild. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

The U3D implementation in Adobe Reader and Acrobat 9.x before 9.3, 8.x before 8.2 on Windows and Mac OS X, and 7.x before 7.1.4 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via malformed U3D data in a PDF document, related to a CLODProgressiveMeshDeclaration "array boundary issue," a different vulnerability than CVE-2009-2994.

Why this priority

High severity
EPSS top 1%: very likely to be exploited
Exploited in the wild (CISA KEV)
Public exploit reference
On your watchlist

A fixed release or distro patch exists.

Risk facts

CVSS score	8.8 (High)
Attack vector	Network (remote)
Attack complexity	Low
Privileges needed	None
User interaction	Required
EPSS exploit chance	83.2% (top 1%)
CISA exploited list	Yes, fix due 2022-06-22
Weakness	CWE-787
Published	2010-01-13
Last modified	2026-06-16

Publisher (CNA): Adobe Systems Incorporated · Vendor: adobe · opensuse · suse

Last updated 2026-06-16 · Sources: CVE Program, NVD, CISA KEV, EPSS and vendor advisories · How we score

Am I affected?

Timeline

2010-01-13 19:30 UTCPublished CVE record published
2022-06-08Exploited Added to the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list
2022-06-22Deadline CISA due date for US federal agencies to patch
2026-06-16 23:12 UTCUpdated Record last modified

adobe acrobat UPGRADE

Affected: >= 7.0 and < 7.1.4 · >= 8.0 and < 8.2 · >= 9.0 and < 9.3

Fixed in: 7.1.4, 8.2, 9.3

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 7.0

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy acrobat || rpm -q acrobat || acrobat --version

2. UPGRADE to 7.1.4 (Debian / Ubuntu)

sudo apt update && sudo apt install --only-upgrade acrobat

2. UPGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

sudo dnf upgrade acrobat

Note

Distros often backport fixes without changing the version number. Confirm with the distro advisory or changelog.

3. If no update is available yet, DOWNGRADE to a release before 7.0 (Debian / Ubuntu)

apt-cache madison acrobat sudo apt install acrobat=<VERSION_BEFORE_7.0> sudo apt-mark hold acrobat

3. If no update is available yet, DOWNGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

dnf --showduplicates list acrobat sudo dnf downgrade acrobat-<VERSION_BEFORE_7.0> sudo dnf versionlock add acrobat

Downgrade risk

Downgrading can break dependent software and may reopen older bugs. Read the distro advisory first and test on a non-production host.

After downgrade

Restart the service, and keep the package held until a fixed release ships.

suse linux enterprise debuginfo DOWNGRADE

Affected: 11

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 11

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy linux-enterprise-debuginfo || rpm -q linux-enterprise-debuginfo || linux-enterprise-debuginfo --version

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE to a release before 11 (Debian / Ubuntu)

apt-cache madison linux-enterprise-debuginfo sudo apt install linux-enterprise-debuginfo=<VERSION_BEFORE_11> sudo apt-mark hold linux-enterprise-debuginfo

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

dnf --showduplicates list linux-enterprise-debuginfo sudo dnf downgrade linux-enterprise-debuginfo-<VERSION_BEFORE_11> sudo dnf versionlock add linux-enterprise-debuginfo

Downgrade risk

Downgrading can break dependent software and may reopen older bugs. Read the distro advisory first and test on a non-production host.

After downgrade

Restart the service, and keep the package held until a fixed release ships.

opensuse opensuse MITIGATE

Affected: 11.1 · 11.2

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 11.1

Check your OS release

cat /etc/os-release; uname -r

Debian / Ubuntu

sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade

RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora

sudo dnf upgrade --refresh

Windows

Install the latest cumulative update from Windows Update

If no patch exists yet

OS downgrades are not safe. Apply the vendor mitigation from the advisory and restrict exposure.

suse linux enterprise MITIGATE

Affected: 10.0 sp2 · 10.0 sp3

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 10.0

Check your OS release

cat /etc/os-release; uname -r

Debian / Ubuntu

sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade

RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora

sudo dnf upgrade --refresh

Windows

Install the latest cumulative update from Windows Update

If no patch exists yet

OS downgrades are not safe. Apply the vendor mitigation from the advisory and restrict exposure.

Exact fixes by distribution

A distro patch exists: prefer upgrading over downgrading.

Fedora 46 · rust-ingredients · FIXED · 0.3.3-2.fc46 · FEDORA-2026-0b3d9feffd · source

sudo dnf upgrade --advisory=FEDORA-2026-0b3d9feffd

Fedora ELN · dpkg · FIXED · 1.23.11-2.eln159 · FEDORA-2026-732e4ac21b · source

sudo dnf upgrade --advisory=FEDORA-2026-732e4ac21b

Public exploits and detection

Public code exists for this CVE. Treat unpatched systems as at risk, and only run PoCs in a lab.

Exploit-DB: Adobe - U3D CLODProgressiveMeshDeclaration Array Overrun (Metasploit) (2)
Metasploit: Adobe U3D CLODProgressiveMeshDeclaration Array Overrun

Verify at the official source NVD · CVE Program · CISA KEV catalog · Report a problem with this page
Scores and fixes here are computed automatically from those and other public sources. Confirm with the vendor advisory before changing production systems.

Quick answers

How do I fix CVE-2009-3953?

acrobat: upgrade to 7.1.4, 8.2, 9.3; linux enterprise debuginfo: downgrade or apply the listed mitigation; opensuse: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Is CVE-2009-3953 being exploited?

Yes. CVE-2009-3953 is on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list, so treat it as patch-now.

What does CVE-2009-3953 affect?

CVE-2009-3953 affects acrobat, linux enterprise debuginfo, opensuse. Severity is high (CVSS 8.8). The U3D implementation in Adobe Reader and Acrobat 9.x before 9.3, 8.x before 8.2 on Windows and Mac OS X, and 7.x before 7.1.4 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via malformed U3D data in a PDF document, related to a CLODPro

How urgent is CVE-2009-3953?

Priority 91/100. High severity; EPSS top 1%: very likely to be exploited; Exploited in the wild (CISA KEV); Public exploit reference; On your watchlist

Software pages

Windows vulnerabilities · Adobe Acrobat vulnerabilities · Adobe Reader vulnerabilities

Related CVEs

CVE-2026-34621 HIGH 8.6 EXPLOITED UPGRADE UPGRADE Adobe Acrobat and Reader Prototype Pollution Vulnerability
CVE-2026-34622 HIGH 8.6 UPGRADE UPGRADE Acrobat Reader versions 26.001.21411, 24.001.30360, 24.001.30362 and earlier are affected by an Improperly Con
CVE-2026-34626 MEDIUM 6.3 UPGRADE UPGRADE Acrobat Reader versions 26.001.21411, 24.001.30360, 24.001.30362 and earlier are affected by an Improperly Con
CVE-2026-48294 HIGH 7.4 UPGRADE Adobe Acrobat PDF Extension (Chrome) versions 26.5.2.2 and earlier are affected by a UXSS-class cross-origin d
CVE-2026-47965 HIGH 7.8 UPGRADE UPGRADE Acrobat Reader versions 24.001.30365, 26.001.21651 and earlier are affected by an out-of-bounds write vulnerab

References

← Back to latest CVEs