How severe is CVE-2008-2042?

CVE-2008-2042 has a CVSS 2.0 base score of 9.3, rated critical severity.

Is CVE-2008-2042 being actively exploited?

It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 5% (91st percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

What products are affected by CVE-2008-2042?

CVE-2008-2042 primarily affects Adobe Acrobat. In total, 76 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.

How do I fix CVE-2008-2042?

Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround. Given its critical severity, prioritise patching exposed systems.

When was CVE-2008-2042 published?

CVE-2008-2042 was published on 2008-05-08 and last updated on 2026-06-16.

CVE-2008-2042

CVE-2008-2042 is a critical-severity vulnerability in Adobe Acrobat with a CVSS 2.0 base score of 9.3. It is not currently listed as actively exploited by CISA, and its EPSS exploit-prediction score is low. The underlying weakness is classified as CWE-20.

Key facts

Severity: Critical (CVSS 2.0 base score 9.3)
EPSS exploit prediction: 5% (91st percentile)
Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
Weakness: CWE-20
Affected product: Adobe Acrobat
Published: 2008-05-08
Last modified: 2026-06-16

Description

The Javascript API in Adobe Acrobat Professional 7.0.9 and possibly 8.1.1 exposes a dangerous method, which allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands or trigger a buffer overflow via a crafted PDF file that invokes app.checkForUpdate with a malicious callback function.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2008-2042?: The Javascript API in Adobe Acrobat Professional 7.0.9 and possibly 8.1.1 exposes a dangerous method, which allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands or trigger a buffer overflow via a crafted PDF file that invokes app.checkForUpdate with a malicious callback function.
How severe is CVE-2008-2042?: CVE-2008-2042 has a CVSS 2.0 base score of 9.3, rated critical severity.
Is CVE-2008-2042 being actively exploited?: It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 5% (91st percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
What products are affected by CVE-2008-2042?: CVE-2008-2042 primarily affects Adobe Acrobat. In total, 76 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.
How do I fix CVE-2008-2042?: Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround. Given its critical severity, prioritise patching exposed systems.
When was CVE-2008-2042 published?: CVE-2008-2042 was published on 2008-05-08 and last updated on 2026-06-16.

References

Affected products (76)

cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat:3.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat:3.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat:4.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat:4.0.5:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat:4.0.5a:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat:4.0.5c:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat:5.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat:5.0.5:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat:5.0.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat:5.0.10:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat:6.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat:6.0.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat:6.0.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat:6.0.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat:6.0.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat:6.0.5:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat:6.0.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat:7.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat:7.0.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat:7.0.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat:7.0.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat:7.0.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat:7.0.5:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat:7.0.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat:7.0.7:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat:7.0.8:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat:7.0.9:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat:7.1.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat:7.1.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat:7.1.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat:7.1.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat:7.1.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat:8.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat:8.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat_reader:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat_reader:3.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat_reader:3.01:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat_reader:3.02:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat_reader:4.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

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