How severe is CVE-2009-2981?

CVE-2009-2981 has a CVSS 2.0 base score of 9.3, rated critical severity.

Is CVE-2009-2981 being actively exploited?

It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 6% (92nd percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

What products are affected by CVE-2009-2981?

CVE-2009-2981 primarily affects Adobe Acrobat. In total, 50 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.

How do I fix CVE-2009-2981?

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-2009-2981 published?

CVE-2009-2981 was published on 2009-10-19 and last updated on 2026-06-16.

CVE-2009-2981

CVE-2009-2981 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: 6% (92nd percentile)
Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
Weakness: CWE-20
Affected product: Adobe Acrobat
Published: 2009-10-19
Last modified: 2026-06-16

Description

Adobe Reader and Acrobat 7.x before 7.1.4, 8.x before 8.1.7, and 9.x before 9.2 do not properly validate input, which might allow attackers to bypass intended Trust Manager restrictions via unspecified vectors.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2009-2981?: Adobe Reader and Acrobat 7.x before 7.1.4, 8.x before 8.1.7, and 9.x before 9.2 do not properly validate input, which might allow attackers to bypass intended Trust Manager restrictions via unspecified vectors.
How severe is CVE-2009-2981?: CVE-2009-2981 has a CVSS 2.0 base score of 9.3, rated critical severity.
Is CVE-2009-2981 being actively exploited?: It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 6% (92nd percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
What products are affected by CVE-2009-2981?: CVE-2009-2981 primarily affects Adobe Acrobat. In total, 50 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.
How do I fix CVE-2009-2981?: 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-2009-2981 published?: CVE-2009-2981 was published on 2009-10-19 and last updated on 2026-06-16.

References

Affected products (50)

cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
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:7.1.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat:8.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat:8.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat:8.1.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat:8.1.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat:8.1.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat:8.1.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat:8.1.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat:9.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat:9.1.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat:9.1.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat_reader:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat_reader:7.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat_reader:7.0.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat_reader:7.0.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat_reader:7.0.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat_reader:7.0.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat_reader:7.0.5:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat_reader:7.0.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat_reader:7.0.7:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat_reader:7.0.8:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat_reader:7.0.9:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat_reader:7.1.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat_reader:7.1.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat_reader:7.1.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat_reader:8.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:adobe:acrobat_reader:8.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

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