CVE-2009-3956

CVE-2009-3956 is a critical-severity vulnerability in Adobe Acrobat with a CVSS 2.0 base score of 10.0. 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-16.

Key facts

• Severity: Critical (CVSS 2.0 base score 10.0)
• EPSS exploit prediction: 8% (94th percentile)
• Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
• Weakness: CWE-16
• Affected product: Adobe Acrobat
• Published: 2010-01-13
• Last modified: 2026-06-16

Description

The default configuration of Adobe Reader and Acrobat 9.x before 9.3, and 8.x before 8.2 on Windows and Mac OS X, does not enable the Enhanced Security feature, which has unspecified impact and attack vectors, related to a "script injection vulnerability," as demonstrated by Acrobat Forms Data Format (FDF) behavior that allows cross-site scripting (XSS) by user-assisted remote attackers.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2009-3956?

The default configuration of Adobe Reader and Acrobat 9.x before 9.3, and 8.x before 8.2 on Windows and Mac OS X, does not enable the Enhanced Security feature, which has unspecified impact and attack vectors, related to a "script injection vulnerability," as demonstrated by Acrobat Forms Data Format (FDF) behavior that allows cross-site scripting (XSS) by user-assisted remote attackers.

How severe is CVE-2009-3956?

CVE-2009-3956 has a CVSS 2.0 base score of 10.0, rated critical severity.

Is CVE-2009-3956 being actively exploited?

It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 8% (94th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

What products are affected by CVE-2009-3956?

CVE-2009-3956 primarily affects Adobe Acrobat. In total, 97 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.

How do I fix CVE-2009-3956?

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-2009-3956 published?

CVE-2009-3956 was published on 2010-01-13 and last updated on 2026-06-16.

References

• http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2010-01/msg00009.html
• http://secunia.com/advisories/38138
• http://secunia.com/advisories/38215
• http://www.adobe.com/support/security/bulletins/apsb10-02.html
• http://www.packetstormsecurity.org/1001-exploits/SS-2010-001.txt
• http://www.redhat.com/support/errata/RHSA-2010-0060.html
• http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/37763
• http://www.securitytracker.com/id?1023446
• http://www.stratsec.net/files/SS-2010-001_Stratsec_Acrobat_Script_Injection_Security_Advisory_v1.0.pdf
• http://www.us-cert.gov/cas/techalerts/TA10-013A.html
• http://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2010/0103
• https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=554296
• https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/55554
• https://oval.cisecurity.org/repository/search/definition/oval%3Aorg.mitre.oval%3Adef%3A8327

Affected products (97)

• 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: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:8.1.5:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

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