Vulnerability · CVE-2008-2042
Adobe Acrobat and Reader Improper Input Validation
Published Jan 20, 2010 · corrected/updated Jan 20, 2010 · Adobe Acrobat and Reader · evidence confidence very high
The Javascript API in Adobe Acrobat Professional 7.0.9 and possibly 8.1.1 exposes a dangerous method, which allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands or trigger a buffer overflow via a crafted PDF file that invokes app.checkForUpdate with a malicious callback function.
Grounded briefings
Catalog interpretations for three audiences. Each brief cites ingested metadata and the original advisories below. They are not independent research and they do not invent exploit steps.
Executive
CVE-2008-2042 is a unknown public vulnerability record for Adobe Acrobat and Reader. CISA lists it as known exploited. Published remediation guidance: Apply remediations or mitigations per vendor instructions or discontinue use of the product if remediation or mitigations are unavailable. This summary is a catalog interpretation of the ingested metadata and cites the original advisories below.
System administrator
Identify whether Adobe Acrobat and Reader is in your estate, then compare installed versions with the affected ranges. Affected packages or ranges on record: Adobe Acrobat and Reader. Published remediation guidance: Apply remediations or mitigations per vendor instructions or discontinue use of the product if remediation or mitigations are unavailable. Prefer the vendor or distribution advisory linked in Sources before changing production systems. This is a catalog interpretation, not a runbook.
Security analyst
Signals on file: no CVSS/EPSS yet. CISA lists it as known exploited. Sources contributing to this record: vulncheck_kev. Public exploit references, when present, are outbound links only and are not proof of active exploitation. This is a catalog interpretation of stored metadata.
Exploitation and remediation
Exploitation evidence
Confirmed in CISA KEV since Jan 20, 2010. Listed in CISA KEV and VulnCheck KEV.
Patch and remediation
Apply remediations or mitigations per vendor instructions or discontinue use of the product if remediation or mitigations are unavailable.
Safe detection guidance
Compare installed versions with the affected ranges below and verify the advisory from the original publisher. This site stores metadata and outbound links only; it does not ship exploit code or proof-of-concept payloads.
Code
The project this record applies to. Exploit listings stay in References.
No public source repository is identified for this product.
Timeline
Detection, updates, and resolution for this record.
Jan 20, 2010 · VulnCheck KEV
Detected
The Javascript API in Adobe Acrobat Professional 7.0.9 and possibly 8.1.1 exposes a dangerous method, which allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands or trigger a buffer overflow via a crafted PDF file that invokes app.checkForUpdate with a malicious callback function.
Jan 20, 2010 · CISA KEV
Known exploited
Apply remediations or mitigations per vendor instructions or discontinue use of the product if remediation or mitigations are unavailable.
Affected
- vendor Adobe Acrobat and Readerversion unspecified
Sources
- VulnCheck KEVConfirmed exploitationCVE-2008-2042
The Javascript API in Adobe Acrobat Professional 7.0.9 and possibly 8.1.1 exposes a dangerous method, which allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands or trigger a buffer overflow via a crafted PDF file that invokes app.checkForUpdate with a malicious callback function
vulncheck.com