CVE-2009-4324
Adobe Acrobat and Reader Use-After-Free Vulnerability
Description
CVE-2009-4324 is a use-after-free vulnerability in Adobe Acrobat and Reader that allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted PDF file. The flaw occurs when the Doc.media.newPlayer JavaScript function is invoked in a PDF, causing the application to access freed memory and enabling attacker-controlled code execution. This vulnerability was widely exploited in the wild through malicious PDF documents delivered via email and web downloads. CISA has added CVE-2009-4324 to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog, and with an EPSS score of 93.0% (99th percentile), it ranks among the most actively exploited vulnerabilities.
KEV Information
CVSS Score
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:HOpen in CalculatorAffected Products
| Vendor | Product | Version |
|---|---|---|
| adobe | acrobat | >= 8.0, < 8.2; >= 9.0, < 9.3 |
| adobe | acrobat reader | >= 8.0, < 8.2; >= 9.0, < 9.3 |
| suse | linux enterprise debuginfo | 11 |
| opensuse | opensuse | 11.1; 11.2 |
| suse | linux enterprise | 10.0 |
Multiple CVSS Assessments
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
References
- http://blogs.adobe.com/psirt/2009/12/new_adobe_reader_and_acrobat_v.html(Broken Link, Vendor Advisory)
- http://contagiodump.blogspot.com/2009/12/virustotal-httpwww.html(Exploit, Third Party Advisory)
- http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2010-01/msg00009.html(Mailing List, Third Party Advisory)
- http://osvdb.org/60980(Broken Link)
- http://secunia.com/advisories/37690(Broken Link, Vendor Advisory)
- http://secunia.com/advisories/38138(Broken Link, Vendor Advisory)
- http://secunia.com/advisories/38215(Broken Link, Vendor Advisory)
- http://www.adobe.com/support/security/advisories/apsa09-07.html(Vendor Advisory)
- http://www.adobe.com/support/security/bulletins/apsb10-02.html(Not Applicable)
- http://www.kb.cert.org/vuls/id/508357(Third Party Advisory, US Government Resource)
- http://www.metasploit.com/redmine/projects/framework/repository/revisions/7881/entry/modules/exploits/windows/fileformat/adobe_media_newplayer.rb(Broken Link)
- http://www.redhat.com/support/errata/RHSA-2010-0060.html(Broken Link)
- http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/37331(Broken Link, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry)
- http://www.shadowserver.org/wiki/pmwiki.php/Calendar/20091214(Broken Link)
- http://www.symantec.com/connect/blogs/zero-day-xmas-present(Broken Link)
- http://www.us-cert.gov/cas/techalerts/TA10-013A.html(Third Party Advisory, US Government Resource)
- http://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2009/3518(Broken Link, Vendor Advisory)
- http://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2010/0103(Broken Link)
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=547799(Issue Tracking)
- https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/54747(Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry)
- https://oval.cisecurity.org/repository/search/definition/oval%3Aorg.mitre.oval%3Adef%3A6795(Broken Link)
- https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2009-4324(US Government Resource)
Weakness Type
CWE-416: Use After Free
CVE-2009-4324 exploits a use-after-free condition in Adobe Acrobat and Reader, specifically in the handling of the Doc.media.newPlayer JavaScript API. When this function is called with crafted parameters in a PDF document, it triggers the use of a previously freed memory object, allowing an attacker to control the contents of the freed memory and achieve arbitrary code execution.
Learn more: CWE-416 — Use After Free
Impact Analysis
CVE-2009-4324 is remotely exploitable through a crafted PDF document — an attacker needs only to deliver a malicious PDF to the victim via email, web download, or any other file sharing mechanism. No authentication is required, and user interaction is limited to opening the PDF file. Successful exploitation results in arbitrary code execution with the privileges of the Adobe Reader or Acrobat process. This places confidentiality, integrity, and availability at full risk, enabling data exfiltration, malware installation, and persistent system access. The EPSS score of 93.0% (99th percentile) indicates near-certain exploitation, and the ubiquity of PDF documents in business communications makes this vulnerability exceptionally dangerous for spear-phishing and mass malware distribution campaigns.
Exploit Maturity
CISA has confirmed active exploitation of CVE-2009-4324 in the wild by adding it to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on June 8, 2022. The EPSS score of 93.0% places this vulnerability in the 99th percentile, indicating near-certain exploitation activity. CVE-2009-4324 was exploited as a zero-day vulnerability before Adobe released a patch, and it became one of the most widely used PDF-based exploits in malware campaigns and exploit kits. The vulnerability specifically targets the Doc.media.newPlayer JavaScript function, and exploit code was widely available in the public domain. No specific ransomware association has been reported, but the reliable remote code execution capability made it a staple in diverse attack campaigns.
Remediation
- Apply Adobe security updates immediately: Install the latest patches for Adobe Acrobat and Reader as directed by the CISA KEV required action to address the Doc.media.newPlayer use-after-free vulnerability.
- Upgrade to a current version of Adobe Acrobat Reader DC: Ensure all systems run a supported version with JavaScript sandboxing and Protected Mode enabled.
- Disable JavaScript in Adobe Reader: Configure Adobe Reader preferences to disable JavaScript execution in PDF documents, which eliminates the Doc.media.newPlayer attack vector entirely.
- Enable Protected Mode sandboxing: Ensure Adobe Reader's Protected Mode is enabled to isolate the PDF rendering process and limit the impact of successful exploitation.
- Deploy PDF content inspection at email and web gateways: Implement scanning for known CVE-2009-4324 exploit signatures and suspicious JavaScript content within PDF files at all network ingress points.
Technical Details
CVE-2009-4324 is a use-after-free vulnerability in Adobe Acrobat and Reader triggered by the Doc.media.newPlayer JavaScript function within PDF documents. When a crafted PDF calls this function with specific parameters, the application frees a memory object but continues to maintain a reference (dangling pointer) to it. When the dangling pointer is subsequently dereferenced, the application accesses memory that may have been reallocated for a different purpose. By using heap spraying techniques to place attacker-controlled data in the freed memory location, an attacker can redirect program execution to arbitrary code. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-416, as the root cause is the continued use of a pointer after the referenced memory has been deallocated. The JavaScript-based trigger mechanism makes exploitation highly reliable, as the attacker has precise control over the sequence of memory operations through the PDF's embedded JavaScript.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is CVE-2009-4324 being actively exploited?
Yes. CISA has confirmed active exploitation by adding CVE-2009-4324 to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog. The EPSS score of 93.0% in the 99th percentile indicates near-certain exploitation. This vulnerability was used in zero-day attacks and became one of the most commonly exploited PDF vulnerabilities.
What products are affected by CVE-2009-4324?
CVE-2009-4324 affects Adobe Acrobat and Adobe Reader, specifically through the Doc.media.newPlayer JavaScript API. Multiple versions of both products are vulnerable. Users should update to the latest supported version of Adobe Acrobat Reader DC.
How do I fix CVE-2009-4324?
Update Adobe Acrobat and Reader to the latest patched version. Disable JavaScript in Adobe Reader preferences to eliminate the attack vector entirely, and enable Protected Mode sandboxing.
How severe is CVE-2009-4324?
CVE-2009-4324 is a critically severe use-after-free vulnerability with an EPSS score in the 99th percentile. It enables highly reliable remote code execution through crafted PDF documents, and the widespread availability of exploit code makes it accessible to a broad range of threat actors.
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