PatchTheCVECVE-2009-4324: Adobe Acrobat and Reader Use-After-Free Vulnerability
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HIGH 7.8EXPLOITEDWATCHLISTUPGRADEUPGRADEDOWNGRADE
CVE-2009-4324 is a high-severity flaw (CVSS 7.8) affecting acrobat, acrobat reader, linux enterprise debuginfo, reported as exploited in the wild. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.
Use-after-free vulnerability in the Doc.media.newPlayer method in Multimedia.api in Adobe Reader and Acrobat 9.x before 9.3, and 8.x before 8.2 on Windows and Mac OS X, allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted PDF file using ZLib compressed streams, as exploited in the wild in December 2009.
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 | 7.8 (High) |
| Attack vector | Local |
| Attack complexity | Low |
| Privileges needed | None |
| User interaction | Required |
| EPSS exploit chance | 81.9% (top 1%) |
| CISA exploited list | Yes, fix due 2022-06-22 |
| Weakness | CWE-416 |
| Published | 2009-12-15 |
| Last modified | 2026-06-16 |
Last updated 2026-06-16 · Sources: CVE Program, NVD, CISA KEV, EPSS and vendor advisories · How we score
Am I affected?
Timeline
- Published CVE record published
- Exploited Added to the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list
- Deadline CISA due date for US federal agencies to patch
- Updated Record last modified
adobe acrobat UPGRADE
Affected: >= 8.0 and < 8.2 · >= 9.0 and < 9.3
Fixed in: 8.2, 9.3
Safe to downgrade to: a release before 8.0
1. Check installed version
apt-cache policy acrobat || rpm -q acrobat || acrobat --version
2. UPGRADE to 8.2 (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 8.0 (Debian / Ubuntu)
apt-cache madison acrobat
sudo apt install acrobat=<VERSION_BEFORE_8.0>
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_8.0>
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.
adobe acrobat reader UPGRADE
Affected: >= 8.0 and < 8.2 · >= 9.0 and < 9.3
Fixed in: 8.2, 9.3
Safe to downgrade to: a release before 8.0
1. Check installed version
apt-cache policy acrobat-reader || rpm -q acrobat-reader || acrobat-reader --version
2. UPGRADE to 8.2 (Debian / Ubuntu)
sudo apt update && sudo apt install --only-upgrade acrobat-reader
2. UPGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)
sudo dnf upgrade acrobat-reader
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 8.0 (Debian / Ubuntu)
apt-cache madison acrobat-reader
sudo apt install acrobat-reader=<VERSION_BEFORE_8.0>
sudo apt-mark hold acrobat-reader
3. If no update is available yet, DOWNGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)
dnf --showduplicates list acrobat-reader
sudo dnf downgrade acrobat-reader-<VERSION_BEFORE_8.0>
sudo dnf versionlock add acrobat-reader
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 - 'Doc.media.newPlayer' Use-After-Free (Metasploit) (1)
- Exploit-DB: Adobe - 'Doc.media.newPlayer' Use-After-Free (Metasploit) (2)
- Exploit-DB: Adobe Reader / Acrobat - '.PDF' File Overflow
- Metasploit: Adobe Doc.media.newPlayer Use After Free Vulnerability
- Metasploit: Adobe Doc.media.newPlayer Use After Free Vulnerability
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.
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-2009-4324?
acrobat: upgrade to 8.2, 9.3; acrobat reader: upgrade to 8.2, 9.3; linux enterprise debuginfo: downgrade or apply the listed mitigation. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.
Is CVE-2009-4324 being exploited?
Yes. CVE-2009-4324 is on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list, so treat it as patch-now.
What does CVE-2009-4324 affect?
CVE-2009-4324 affects acrobat, acrobat reader, linux enterprise debuginfo. Severity is high (CVSS 7.8). Use-after-free vulnerability in the Doc.media.newPlayer method in Multimedia.api in Adobe Reader and Acrobat 9.x before 9.3, and 8.x before 8.2 on Windows and Mac OS X, allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted PDF fil
How urgent is CVE-2009-4324?
Priority 87/100. 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 · zlib vulnerabilities
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