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TI-2009-01414 Aliases CVE-2009-1493GHSA-f62c-gjq3-9jwj

The customDictionaryOpen spell method in the JavaScript API in Adobe Reader 9.1, 8.1.4…

Priority MEDIUM 50CWE-399Published · Updated

Key facts

Attack vector
Network
Privileges required
None
User interaction
— Not recorded in CVSS 2.0
Attack complexity
Medium
Impact type
Code execution
Confidentiality · integrity · availability
Partial · Partial · Partial
Fix status
Fixed

Attack profile from CVSS 2.0 · NVD. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat. Impact type from CWE-399 and the CVSS impact.

Summary

The customDictionaryOpen spell method in the JavaScript API in Adobe Reader 9.1, 8.1.4, 7.1.1, and earlier on Linux and UNIX allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (memory corruption) or execute arbitrary code via a PDF file that triggers a call to this method with a long string in the second argument.

Why it matters now

EPSS 0.21826 97th percentileScored 2026-11-07
Public exploit Yes 2 exploit referencesTagged by the CNA and NVD
Fix Fixed Red Hat: 1 advisory

SSVC decision points

Not available: CISA has not published SSVC decision points for this record.

Affected products

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed inStatusSource
——all versions—No fix listedCNA
  • — Vendor— Affected all versions Fixed in — No fix listed CNA

CPE configurations NVD · 3

CPEVersionsRoleVendor
cpe:2.3:a:adobe:reader:8.1.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:*8.1.4VulnerableAdobe
cpe:2.3:a:adobe:reader:9.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*9.1VulnerableAdobe
cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*not specified by NVDRunning onLinux
  • cpe:2.3:a:adobe:reader:8.1.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 8.1.4 Vulnerable ·Adobe
  • cpe:2.3:a:adobe:reader:9.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 9.1 Vulnerable ·Adobe
  • cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions not specified by NVD Running on ·Linux

Remediation

Red Hat 1 advisory

  • RHSA-2009:0478 Released 2009-05-13 · Red Hat rating Critical
    acroread security update
    • Red Hat Desktop version 3 Extras acroread-8.1.5-2.i386, acroread-plugin-8.1.5-2.i386
    • Red Hat Desktop version 4 Extras acroread-8.1.5-1.el4.i386, acroread-plugin-8.1.5-1.el4.i386
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux AS version 3 Extras acroread-8.1.5-2.i386, acroread-plugin-8.1.5-2.i386
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux AS version 4 Extras acroread-8.1.5-1.el4.i386, acroread-plugin-8.1.5-1.el4.i386
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Desktop Supplementary (v. 5) acroread-8.1.5-1.el5.i386, acroread-plugin-8.1.5-1.el5.i386
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux ES version 3 Extras acroread-8.1.5-2.i386, acroread-plugin-8.1.5-2.i386
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux ES version 4 Extras acroread-8.1.5-1.el4.i386, acroread-plugin-8.1.5-1.el4.i386
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server Supplementary (v. 5) acroread-8.1.5-1.el5.i386, acroread-plugin-8.1.5-1.el5.i386
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux WS version 3 Extras acroread-8.1.5-2.i386, acroread-plugin-8.1.5-2.i386
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux WS version 4 Extras acroread-8.1.5-1.el4.i386, acroread-plugin-8.1.5-1.el4.i386

Vendor assessments

Red Hat

Red Hat rating: Critical. Red Hat's page for this CVE →

ProductStatusPlan or fix
Red Hat Desktop version 3 ExtrasFixed RHSA-2009:0478
Red Hat Desktop version 4 ExtrasFixed RHSA-2009:0478
Red Hat Enterprise Linux AS version 3 ExtrasFixed RHSA-2009:0478
Red Hat Enterprise Linux AS version 4 ExtrasFixed RHSA-2009:0478
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Desktop Supplementary (v. 5)Fixed RHSA-2009:0478
Red Hat Enterprise Linux ES version 3 ExtrasFixed RHSA-2009:0478
Red Hat Enterprise Linux ES version 4 ExtrasFixed RHSA-2009:0478
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server Supplementary (v. 5)Fixed RHSA-2009:0478
Red Hat Enterprise Linux WS version 3 ExtrasFixed RHSA-2009:0478
Red Hat Enterprise Linux WS version 4 ExtrasFixed RHSA-2009:0478

Timeline

  1. 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2009-1493
  2. 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-f62c-gjq3-9jwj

References

Exploit 2

Advisory 11

Other 3

  • TI-2018-11472 Adobe Acrobat and Reader versions 2019.008.20081 and earlier, 2019.008.20080 and earlier… CVSS 3.1MEDIUM 6.5
  • TI-2011-03835 Adobe Reader and Acrobat before 9.5, and 10.x before 10.1.2, on Windows and Mac OS X… CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
  • TI-2016-03592 Adobe Reader and Acrobat before 11.0.17, Acrobat and Acrobat Reader DC Classic before… CVSS 3.0CRITICAL 9.8
  • TI-2016-03590 Adobe Reader and Acrobat before 11.0.17, Acrobat and Acrobat Reader DC Classic before… CVSS 3.0CRITICAL 9.8
  • TI-2017-08308 Memory corruption in Adobe Acrobat Reader CVSS 3.0HIGH 8.8
  • TI-2017-08257 Memory corruption in Adobe Acrobat Reader CVSS 3.0HIGH 8.8
See all 358 →

Sources

This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences