CVE-2008-2992
Confirmed PUBLISHEDStack-based buffer overflow in Adobe Acrobat and Reader 8.1.2 and earlier allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a PDF file that...
Recommended Action
Prioritize remediation. Validate affected assets and apply vendor fixes on an accelerated timeline.
At a Glance
Stack-based buffer overflow in Adobe Acrobat and Reader 8.1.2 and earlier allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a PDF file that calls the util.printf JavaScript function with a crafted format string argument, a related issue to CVE-2008-1104.
- CVE Published
- Nov 04, 2008
- Exploitation Reported
- Mar 03, 2022
- CVSS
- 7.8 High
- EPSS
- —
Affected Versions
| Vendor | Product | Version | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| n/a |
n/a
|
n/a |
Affected |
CVE References
- 249366 download.oracle.com · Vendor Advisory http://download.oracle.com/sunalerts/1019937.1.html
- SUSE-SR:2008:026 lists.opensuse.org · Vendor Advisory http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2008-11/msg00002...
- RHSA-2008:0974 redhat.com · Vendor Advisory http://www.redhat.com/support/errata/RHSA-2008-0974.html
- 32700 secunia.com · Third-Party Advisory http://secunia.com/advisories/32700
- 35163 secunia.com · Third-Party Advisory http://secunia.com/advisories/35163
Show 22 more references
- 32872 secunia.com · Third-Party Advisory http://secunia.com/advisories/32872
- 4549 securityreason.com · Third-Party Advisory http://securityreason.com/securityalert/4549
- 29773 secunia.com · Third-Party Advisory http://secunia.com/advisories/29773
- TA08-309A us-cert.gov · Third-Party Advisory http://www.us-cert.gov/cas/techalerts/TA08-309A.html
- VU#593409 kb.cert.org · Third-Party Advisory http://www.kb.cert.org/vuls/id/593409
- 7006 exploit-db.com · Exploit https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/7006
- 6994 exploit-db.com · Exploit https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/6994
- 30035 securityfocus.com · VDB Entry http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/30035
- 32091 securityfocus.com · VDB Entry http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/32091
- 49520 osvdb.org · VDB Entry http://osvdb.org/49520
- ADV-2009-0098 vupen.com · VDB Entry http://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2009/0098
- 1021140 securitytracker.com · VDB Entry http://www.securitytracker.com/id?1021140
- ADV-2008-3001 vupen.com · VDB Entry http://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2008/3001
- 20081104 Secunia Research: Adobe Acrobat/Reader "util.printf()" Buffer Overflow securityfocus.com · Mailing List http://www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/498027/100/0/threaded
- 20081104 ZDI-08-072: Adobe Acrobat PDF Javascript printf Stack Overflow Vulnerability securityfocus.com · Mailing List http://www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/498055/100/0/threaded
- 20081104 CORE-2008-0526: Adobe Reader Javascript Printf Buffer Overflow securityfocus.com · Mailing List http://www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/498032/100/0/threaded
- support.nortel.com/go/main.jsp support.nortel.com · CVE Record http://support.nortel.com/go/main.jsp?cscat=BLTNDETAIL&id=909609
- secunia.com/secunia_research/2008-14 secunia.com · CVE Record http://secunia.com/secunia_research/2008-14/
- coresecurity.com/content/adobe-reader-buffer-overflow coresecurity.com · CVE Record http://www.coresecurity.com/content/adobe-reader-buffer-overflow
- zerodayinitiative.com/advisories/ZDI-08-072 zerodayinitiative.com · CVE Record http://www.zerodayinitiative.com/advisories/ZDI-08-072/
- adobe.com/support/security/bulletins/apsb08-19.html adobe.com · CVE Record http://www.adobe.com/support/security/bulletins/apsb08-19.html
- support.nortel.com/go/main.jsp support.nortel.com · CVE Record http://support.nortel.com/go/main.jsp?cscat=BLTNDETAIL&id=800801
Recommended Actions
- Prioritize remediation. Validate affected assets and apply vendor fixes on an accelerated timeline.
- Check enrichment artifacts for scanner coverage and available PoCs before rolling remediation validation.
- Use the Pro API to automate enrichment, telemetry, and workflow delivery for VM, SOC, and CTI pipelines.
Known Exploited Vulnerability Sources
Catalogues that list this CVE as a known exploited vulnerability.
Per-source evidence links for KEV attestations are available through the KEVIntel Pro API.
Learn about Pro API access| Source | Added |
|---|---|
| CISA First | 2022-03-03 00:00 UTC |
Scanner Artifacts
Nuclei and Metasploit references linked to this CVE.
| Scanner | Reference | Detected |
|---|---|---|
| Metasploit | https://github.com/rapid7/metasploit-framework/blob/master/modules/exploits/windows/fileformat/adobe_utilprintf.rb | Apr 29, 2025 |
Virtual Patch
Compensating WAF rules to help reduce exposure to this CVE. Rule content and deployable vendor exports are available with KEVIntel Enterprise.
KEVIntel does not currently have a virtual patch for this CVE. When available, KEVIntel virtual patches ship as deployable ModSecurity, Cloudflare, and AWS WAF rules.
Enterprise feature. Virtual patch rule content and deployable vendor exports (ModSecurity, Cloudflare, AWS WAF) are available to KEVIntel Enterprise users.
CVSS Scores
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
AV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C
Exploitation Status
Exploited in the wild
Recorded 2022-03-03 00:00:00 UTC · CISA
Used in malware
Recorded 2026-06-02 14:08:27 UTC · CISA
Proof of concept available
Recorded 2025-04-28 15:02:37 UTC
Weaknesses (CWE)
-
Out-of-bounds Write
Scanner Integrations
| Scanner | Reference | Detected |
|---|---|---|
| Metasploit | https://github.com/rapid7/metasploit-framework/blob/master/modules/exploits/windows/fileformat/adobe_utilprintf.rb | Apr 29, 2025 |
Potential Proof of Concepts
These PoCs are unverified and could contain malware. Use at your own risk.
Timeline
Key exploitation, disclosure, scanner coverage, and KEV attestation events for this CVE.
-
14:08 UTC about 2 months ago14:08 UTC · about 2 months ago
First public exploitation report
Exploit observed in malware
-
10:58 UTC about 1 year ago10:58 UTC · about 1 year ago
Metasploit module available
Exploit module available
-
15:02 UTC about 1 year ago15:02 UTC · about 1 year ago
Public PoC available
Public proof-of-concept code published
-
00:00 UTC over 4 years ago00:00 UTC · over 4 years ago
Added to CISA KEV
Listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog
-
18:00 UTC over 17 years ago18:00 UTC · over 17 years ago
CVE published
Vulnerability disclosed publicly
-
00:00 UTC about 18 years ago00:00 UTC · about 18 years ago
CVE ID reserved
Identifier reserved by the CNA
Automate This Intelligence with the Pro API
Confidence scoring, exploit status, sensor telemetry, PoCs, scanner integrations, mentions, and tags are available programmatically for VM, SOC, and CTI workflows.
Pro API Example
GET /api/v2/pro/kevs/CVE-2008-2992
{
"cve_id": "CVE-2008-2992",
"title": "Stack-based buffer overflow in Adobe Acrobat and Reader 8.1.2 and earlier all...",
"affected_vendor": "Adobe",
"affected_product": "Acrobat and Reader",
"affected_versions": [
{ "vendor": "...", "product": "...", "status": "affected", "display_label": "..." }
],
"confidence": "Confirmed",
"cvss_score": 7.8,
"epss_score": null,
"exploit_status": {
"exploited_in_the_wild": true,
"active_exploitation_observed": false
},
"sensor_telemetry": { "...": "Pro API fields" },
"proof_of_concepts": [ "..." ],
"scanner_integrations": [ "..." ]
}