# CVE-2008-2992: Adobe Reader and Acrobat Input Validation

> Remote attackers can execute arbitrary code via a crafted PDF file exploiting a stack-based buffer overflow in Adobe Acrobat and Reader.

- **Severity:** High 7.8 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Yes, since 3 Mar 2022 (CISA KEV), used in ransomware
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** A user has to click or open something
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 4 Nov 2008
- **Updated:** 22 Oct 2025
- **Also known as:** GHSA-c6vf-qwc3-92qf

## What is CVE-2008-2992?

CVE-2008-2992 is a high-severity memory corruption vulnerability in Adobe Acrobat, published on 4 Nov 2008. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.

### Official description

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.

Weakness: CWE-787 (Out-of-bounds Write)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2008-2992?

It affects 3 products.


Products: Adobe Acrobat, Adobe Acrobat Reader, Oracle Solaris.

## How do I fix CVE-2008-2992?

Apply the vendor's patch. US federal agencies must fix it by 24 Mar 2022.

## Is CVE-2008-2992 being exploited?

Yes. Attackers have exploited CVE-2008-2992 in the wild since at least 3 Mar 2022, including in ransomware campaigns.

Public exploit code:

- Adobe util.printf() Buffer Overflow (metasploit)
- Adobe util.printf() Buffer Overflow (metasploit)
- Adobe Reader - 'util.printf()' JavaScript Function Stack Overflow (1) (exploitdb)
- Adobe Reader - 'util.printf()' JavaScript Function Stack Overflow (2) (exploitdb)
- Adobe - 'util.printf()' Local Buffer Overflow (Metasploit) (1) (exploitdb)
- Adobe - 'util.printf()' Local Buffer Overflow (Metasploit) (2) (exploitdb)

## Other vulnerabilities in Adobe Acrobat

- [CVE-2021-28550](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-28550/): Adobe Acrobat and Reader Use-After-Free (critical 9.6, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2021-21017](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-21017/): Adobe Acrobat and Reader Heap-based Buffer Overflow (high 8.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2014-0546](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2014-0546/): Adobe Reader and Acrobat Sandbox Bypass (high 8.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2014-0496](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2014-0496/): Adobe Reader and Acrobat Use-After-Free (high 8.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2013-3346](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2013-3346/): Adobe Reader and Acrobat Memory Corruption (high 8.8, exploited in the wild)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2008-2992 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2008-2992 is a high-severity memory corruption vulnerability in Adobe Acrobat, published on 4 Nov 2008. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Exploitation: Yes. Attackers have exploited CVE-2008-2992 in the wild since at least 3 Mar 2022, including in ransomware campaigns.

Affected product: Adobe Acrobat. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2008-2992/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2008-2992/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2008-2992
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2008-2992
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2008-2992

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2008-2992/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.