How severe is CVE-2009-2993?

CVE-2009-2993 has a CVSS 2.0 base score of 9.3, rated critical severity.

Is CVE-2009-2993 being actively exploited?

It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 7% (93rd percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

What products are affected by CVE-2009-2993?

CVE-2009-2993 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-2009-2993?

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-2009-2993 published?

CVE-2009-2993 was published on 2009-10-19 and last updated on 2026-06-16.

CVE-2009-2993

CVE-2009-2993 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: 7% (93rd 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

The JavaScript for Acrobat API in Adobe Reader and Acrobat 7.x before 7.1.4, 8.x before 8.1.7, and 9.x before 9.2 does not properly implement the (1) Privileged Context and (2) Safe Path restrictions for unspecified JavaScript methods, which allows remote attackers to create arbitrary files, and possibly execute arbitrary code, via the cPath parameter in a crafted PDF file. NOTE: some of these details are obtained from third party information.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2009-2993?: The JavaScript for Acrobat API in Adobe Reader and Acrobat 7.x before 7.1.4, 8.x before 8.1.7, and 9.x before 9.2 does not properly implement the (1) Privileged Context and (2) Safe Path restrictions for unspecified JavaScript methods, which allows remote attackers to create arbitrary files, and possibly execute arbitrary code, via the cPath parameter in a crafted PDF file. NOTE: some of these details are obtained from third party information.
How severe is CVE-2009-2993?: CVE-2009-2993 has a CVSS 2.0 base score of 9.3, rated critical severity.
Is CVE-2009-2993 being actively exploited?: It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 7% (93rd percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
What products are affected by CVE-2009-2993?: CVE-2009-2993 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-2009-2993?: 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-2009-2993 published?: CVE-2009-2993 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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