CVE-2009-1493

Status: ModifiedMedium (6.8)—Exploit
Severity6.8Medium · CVSS 2.0
Exploitation probability22 %higher than 98% of CVEs
Active exploitationNonot in the CISA catalog
Public exploitAvailablePublished on Exploit-DB

The customDictionaryOpen spell method in the JavaScript API in Adobe Reader 9.1, 8.1.4, 7.1.1, and earlier on Linux and UNIX allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (memory corruption) or execute arbitrary code via a PDF file that triggers a call to this method with a long string in the second argument.

CVSS

Base score
6.8
Version
2.0
Vector
AV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P

Exploitation probability (EPSS)

Probability of exploitation in the next 30 days
22 %
Percentile among all scored CVEs
98
Score date
10/20/2026

EPSS (Exploit Prediction Scoring System, FIRST) estimates how likely a vulnerability is to be exploited in the wild within 30 days. It complements CVSS (impact) and CISA KEV (confirmed exploitation).

Public exploits

Exploit code or detection templates are publicly available. This is not the same as confirmed active exploitation (KEV), but it raises the risk: patch with priority.

Affected technologies (1)

CWEs

References

Show 52 references

Raw JSON (NVD)

Show
{
  "id": "CVE-2009-1493",
  "cveTags": [],
  "metrics": {
    "cvssMetricV2": [
      {
        "type": "Primary",
        "source": "nvd@nist.gov",
        "cvssData": {
          "version": "2.0",
          "baseScore": 6.8,
          "accessVector": "NETWORK",
          "vectorString": "AV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P",
          "authentication": "NONE",
          "integrityImpact": "PARTIAL",
          "accessComplexity": "MEDIUM",
          "availabilityImpact": "PARTIAL",
          "confidentialityImpact": "PARTIAL"
        },
        "acInsufInfo": false,
        "impactScore": 6.4,
        "baseSeverity": "MEDIUM",
        "obtainAllPrivilege": false,
        "exploitabilityScore": 8.6,
        "obtainUserPrivilege": false,
        "obtainOtherPrivilege": false,
        "userInteractionRequired": true
      }
    ]
  },
  "affected": [
    {
      "source": "cve@mitre.org",
      "affectedData": [
        {
          "vendor": "n/a",
          "product": "n/a",
          "versions": [
            {
              "status": "affected",
              "version": "n/a"
            }
          ]
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "published": "2009-04-30T20:30:00.687",
  "references": [
    {
      "url": "http://blogs.adobe.com/psirt/2009/04/update_on_adobe_reader_issue.html",
      "tags": [
        "Vendor Advisory"
      ],
      "source": "cve@mitre.org"
    },
    {
      "url": "http://blogs.adobe.com/psirt/2009/05/adobe_reader_issue_update.html",
      "tags": [
        "Third Party Advisory"
      ],
      "source": "cve@mitre.org"
    },
    {
      "url": "http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2009-05/msg00001.html",
      "tags": [
        "Mailing List",
        "Third Party Advisory"
      ],
      "source": "cve@mitre.org"
    },
    {
      "url": "http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2009-06/msg00003.html",
      "tags": [
        "Mailing List",
        "Third Party Advisory"
      ],
      "source": "cve@mitre.org"
    },
    {
      "url": "http://osvdb.org/54129",
      "tags": [
        "Broken Link"
      ],
      "source": "cve@mitre.org"
    },
    {
      "url": "http://packetstorm.linuxsecurity.com/0904-exploits/spell.txt",
      "tags": [
        "Exploit"
      ],
      "source": "cve@mitre.org"
    },
    {
      "url": "http://secunia.com/advisories/34924",
      "tags": [
        "Broken Link"
      ],
      "source": "cve@mitre.org"
    },
    {
      "url": "http://secunia.com/advisories/35055",
      "tags": [
        "Broken Link"
      ],
      "source": "cve@mitre.org"
    },
    {
      "url": "http://secunia.com/advisories/35096",
      "tags": [
        "Broken Link"
      ],
      "source": "cve@mitre.org"
    },
    {
      "url": "http://secunia.com/advisories/35152",
      "tags": [
        "Broken Link"
      ],
      "source": "cve@mitre.org"
    },
    {
      "url": "http://secunia.com/advisories/35358",
      "tags": [
        "Broken Link"
      ],
      "source": "cve@mitre.org"
    },
    {
      "url": "http://secunia.com/advisories/35416",
      "tags": [
        "Broken Link"
      ],
      "source": "cve@mitre.org"
    },
    {
      "url": "http://secunia.com/advisories/35734",
      "tags": [
        "Broken Link"
      ],
      "source": "cve@mitre.org"
    },
    {
      "url": "http://security.gentoo.org/glsa/glsa-200907-06.xml",
      "tags": [
        "Third Party Advisory"
      ],
      "source": "cve@mitre.org"
    },
    {
      "url": "http://sunsolve.sun.com/search/document.do?assetkey=1-66-259028-1",
      "tags": [
        "Broken Link"
      ],
      "source": "cve@mitre.org"
    },
    {
      "url": "http://support.nortel.com/go/main.jsp?cscat=BLTNDETAIL&id=926953",
      "tags": [
        "Third Party Advisory"
      ],
      "source": "cve@mitre.org"
    },
    {
      "url": "http://www.adobe.com/support/security/bulletins/apsb09-06.html",
      "tags": [
        "Third Party Advisory"
      ],
      "source": "cve@mitre.org"
    },
    {
      "url": "http://www.kb.cert.org/vuls/id/970180",
      "tags": [
        "Third Party Advisory",
        "US Government Resource"
      ],
      "source": "cve@mitre.org"
    },
    {
      "url": "http://www.redhat.com/support/errata/RHSA-2009-0478.html",
      "tags": [
        "Third Party Advisory"
      ],
      "source": "cve@mitre.org"
    },
    {
      "url": "http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/34740",
      "tags": [
        "Exploit",
        "Third Party Advisory",
        "VDB Entry"
      ],
      "source": "cve@mitre.org"
    },
    {
      "url": "http://www.securitytracker.com/id?1022139",
      "tags": [
        "Third Party Advisory",
        "VDB Entry"
      ],
      "source": "cve@mitre.org"
    },
    {
      "url": "http://www.us-cert.gov/cas/techalerts/TA09-133B.html",
      "tags": [
        "Third Party Advisory",
        "US Government Resource"
      ],
      "source": "cve@mitre.org"
    },
    {
      "url": "http://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2009/1189",
      "tags": [
        "Broken Link"
      ],
      "source": "cve@mitre.org"
    },
    {
      "url": "http://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2009/1317",
      "tags": [
        "Broken Link"
      ],
      "source": "cve@mitre.org"
    },
    {
      "url": "https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/50146",
      "tags": [
        "Third Party Advisory",
        "VDB Entry"
      ],
      "source": "cve@mitre.org"
    },
    {
      "url": "https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/8570",
      "tags": [
        "Third Party Advisory",
        "VDB Entry"
      ],
      "source": "cve@mitre.org"
    },
    {
      "url": "http://blogs.adobe.com/psirt/2009/04/update_on_adobe_reader_issue.html",
      "tags": [
        "Vendor Advisory"
      ],
      "source": "af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108"
    },
    {
      "url": "http://blogs.adobe.com/psirt/2009/05/adobe_reader_issue_update.html",
      "tags": [
        "Third Party Advisory"
      ],
      "source": "af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108"
    },
    {
      "url": "http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2009-05/msg00001.html",
      "tags": [
        "Mailing List",
        "Third Party Advisory"
      ],
      "source": "af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108"
    },
    {
      "url": "http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2009-06/msg00003.html",
      "tags": [
        "Mailing List",
        "Third Party Advisory"
      ],
      "source": "af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108"
    },
    {
      "url": "http://osvdb.org/54129",
      "tags": [
        "Broken Link"
      ],
      "source": "af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108"
    },
    {
      "url": "http://packetstorm.linuxsecurity.com/0904-exploits/spell.txt",
      "tags": [
        "Exploit"
      ],
      "source": "af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108"
    },
    {
      "url": "http://secunia.com/advisories/34924",
      "tags": [
        "Broken Link"
      ],
      "source": "af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108"
    },
    {
      "url": "http://secunia.com/advisories/35055",
      "tags": [
        "Broken Link"
      ],
      "source": "af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108"
    },
    {
      "url": "http://secunia.com/advisories/35096",
      "tags": [
        "Broken Link"
      ],
      "source": "af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108"
    },
    {
      "url": "http://secunia.com/advisories/35152",
      "tags": [
        "Broken Link"
      ],
      "source": "af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108"
    },
    {
      "url": "http://secunia.com/advisories/35358",
      "tags": [
        "Broken Link"
      ],
      "source": "af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108"
    },
    {
      "url": "http://secunia.com/advisories/35416",
      "tags": [
        "Broken Link"
      ],
      "source": "af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108"
    },
    {
      "url": "http://secunia.com/advisories/35734",
      "tags": [
        "Broken Link"
      ],
      "source": "af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108"
    },
    {
      "url": "http://security.gentoo.org/glsa/glsa-200907-06.xml",
      "tags": [
        "Third Party Advisory"
      ],
      "source": "af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108"
    },
    {
      "url": "http://sunsolve.sun.com/search/document.do?assetkey=1-66-259028-1",
      "tags": [
        "Broken Link"
      ],
      "source": "af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108"
    },
    {
      "url": "http://support.nortel.com/go/main.jsp?cscat=BLTNDETAIL&id=926953",
      "tags": [
        "Third Party Advisory"
      ],
      "source": "af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108"
    },
    {
      "url": "http://www.adobe.com/support/security/bulletins/apsb09-06.html",
      "tags": [
        "Third Party Advisory"
      ],
      "source": "af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108"
    },
    {
      "url": "http://www.kb.cert.org/vuls/id/970180",
      "tags": [
        "Third Party Advisory",
        "US Government Resource"
      ],
      "source": "af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108"
    },
    {
      "url": "http://www.redhat.com/support/errata/RHSA-2009-0478.html",
      "tags": [
        "Third Party Advisory"
      ],
      "source": "af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108"
    },
    {
      "url": "http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/34740",
      "tags": [
        "Exploit",
        "Third Party Advisory",
        "VDB Entry"
      ],
      "source": "af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108"
    },
    {
      "url": "http://www.securitytracker.com/id?1022139",
      "tags": [
        "Third Party Advisory",
        "VDB Entry"
      ],
      "source": "af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108"
    },
    {
      "url": "http://www.us-cert.gov/cas/techalerts/TA09-133B.html",
      "tags": [
        "Third Party Advisory",
        "US Government Resource"
      ],
      "source": "af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108"
    },
    {
      "url": "http://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2009/1189",
      "tags": [
        "Broken Link"
      ],
      "source": "af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108"
    },
    {
      "url": "http://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2009/1317",
      "tags": [
        "Broken Link"
      ],
      "source": "af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108"
    },
    {
      "url": "https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/50146",
      "tags": [
        "Third Party Advisory",
        "VDB Entry"
      ],
      "source": "af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108"
    },
    {
      "url": "https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/8570",
      "tags": [
        "Third Party Advisory",
        "VDB Entry"
      ],
      "source": "af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108"
    }
  ],
  "vulnStatus": "Modified",
  "weaknesses": [
    {
      "type": "Primary",
      "source": "nvd@nist.gov",
      "description": [
        {
          "lang": "en",
          "value": "CWE-399"
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "descriptions": [
    {
      "lang": "en",
      "value": "The customDictionaryOpen spell method in the JavaScript API in Adobe Reader 9.1, 8.1.4, 7.1.1, and earlier on Linux and UNIX allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (memory corruption) or execute arbitrary code via a PDF file that triggers a call to this method with a long string in the second argument."
    },
    {
      "lang": "es",
      "value": "El método spell customDictionaryOpen en la API de JavaScript en Adobe Reader v8.1.4 y v9.1 de Linux permite a atacantes remotos provocar una denegación de servicio (corrupción de memoria) o ejecutar código arbitrario a través de un archivo PDF que activa una llamada a este método con una larga cadena de en el segundo argumento."
    }
  ],
  "lastModified": "2026-06-16T23:07:23.167",
  "configurations": [
    {
      "nodes": [
        {
          "negate": false,
          "cpeMatch": [
            {
              "criteria": "cpe:2.3:a:adobe:reader:8.1.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:*",
              "vulnerable": true,
              "matchCriteriaId": "61151189-E24C-4AB6-BC60-B9AF720E3D4B"
            },
            {
              "criteria": "cpe:2.3:a:adobe:reader:9.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*",
              "vulnerable": true,
              "matchCriteriaId": "FBE16943-CCD8-4A39-832F-F6ED3CF2936B"
            }
          ],
          "operator": "OR"
        },
        {
          "negate": false,
          "cpeMatch": [
            {
              "criteria": "cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*",
              "vulnerable": false,
              "matchCriteriaId": "703AF700-7A70-47E2-BC3A-7FD03B3CA9C1"
            }
          ],
          "operator": "OR"
        }
      ],
      "operator": "AND"
    }
  ],
  "sourceIdentifier": "cve@mitre.org"
}