How to fix CVE-2009-4324?

Within 24 hours: Identify all affected systems running the Doc.media.newPlayer method in Multimedia.api in Adobe Re and apply vendor patches immediately. If patching is delayed, consider network segmentation to limit exposure.

Is Windows affected by CVE-2009-4324?

CVE-2009-4324 presents notable security risk, a use-after-free vulnerability rated CVSS 7.8. Exploitation could compromise the security of affected deployments. This vulnerability is actively exploited in the wild (KEV-listed) and requires immediate remediation.

CVE-2009-4324

HIGH

2009-12-15 [email protected]

7.8

CVSS 3.1

CVSS Vector

CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Attack Vector

Local

Attack Complexity

Low

Privileges Required

None

User Interaction

Required

Scope

Unchanged

Confidentiality

High

Integrity

High

Availability

High

Lifecycle Timeline

Analysis Generated

Mar 26, 2026 - 11:17 vuln.today

Added to CISA KEV

Oct 22, 2025 - 01:15 cisa

CISA KEV

PoC Detected

Oct 22, 2025 - 01:15 vuln.today

Public exploit code

CVE Published

Dec 15, 2009 - 02:30 nvd

HIGH 7.8

Description

Use-after-free vulnerability in the Doc.media.newPlayer method in Multimedia.api in Adobe Reader and Acrobat 9.x before 9.3, and 8.x before 8.2 on Windows and Mac OS X, allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted PDF file using ZLib compressed streams, as exploited in the wild in December 2009.

Analysis

Adobe Reader and Acrobat contain a use-after-free vulnerability in the Doc.media.newPlayer JavaScript method that was actively exploited as a zero-day in December 2009 via crafted PDF files with ZLib compressed streams.

Technical Context

The CWE-416 flaw occurs when JavaScript code triggers the Doc.media.newPlayer method, causing a media player object to be freed while still referenced. Subsequent access to the freed object allows attackers to control execution flow. Exploits used ZLib compressed streams to bypass detection.

Affected Products

['Adobe Reader 9.x before 9.3', 'Adobe Reader 8.x before 8.2', 'Adobe Acrobat 9.x before 9.3', 'Adobe Acrobat 8.x before 8.2']

Remediation

Update to Adobe Reader/Acrobat 9.3+ or 8.2+. Modern mitigation: deploy PDF readers with exploit mitigations (sandbox, DEP, ASLR) or use browser-based PDF rendering.

Priority Score

212

Low Medium High Critical

KEV: +50

EPSS: +92.9

CVSS: +39

POC: +20

CVE-2009-4324 vulnerability details – vuln.today

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CVE-2009-4324

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Lifecycle Timeline

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CVE-2009-4324

CVSS Vector

Lifecycle Timeline

Tags

Description

Analysis

Technical Context

Affected Products

Remediation

Priority Score

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