# CVE-2009-2564: Privilege escalation in n/a

> Local attackers can gain SYSTEM privileges by replacing the getPlus Helper Service executable due to insecure file permissions.

- **Severity:** High 7.2 (`AV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 21 Jul 2009
- **Updated:** 7 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-9x38-fqhc-vfhf

## What is CVE-2009-2564?

CVE-2009-2564 is a high-severity vulnerability in Adobe Acrobat Reader, published on 21 Jul 2009. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

NOS Microsystems getPlus Download Manager, as used in Adobe Reader 1.6.2.36 and possibly other versions, Corel getPlus Download Manager before 1.5.0.48, and possibly other products, installs NOS\bin\getPlus_HelperSvc.exe with insecure permissions (Everyone:Full Control), which allows local users to gain SYSTEM privileges by replacing getPlus_HelperSvc.exe with a Trojan horse program, as demonstrated by use of getPlus Download Manager within Adobe Reader. NOTE: within Adobe Reader, the scope of this issue is limited because the program is deleted and the associated service is not automatically launched after a successful installation and reboot.

Weakness: CWE-264

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2009-2564?

It affects 3 products.


Products: Adobe Acrobat Reader, Corel Getplus Download Manager, Nos Microsystems Getplus Download Manager.

## How do I fix CVE-2009-2564?

No fix has been published for CVE-2009-2564 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2009-2564 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2009-2564 exists.

Public exploit code:

- Adobe 9.x Related Service - 'getPlus_HelperSvc.exe' Local Privilege Escalation (exploitdb)
- Adobe Acrobat 9.1.2 NOS - Local Privilege Escalation (exploitdb)

## Other vulnerabilities in Adobe Acrobat Reader

- [CVE-2009-0927](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2009-0927/): Adobe Reader and Adobe Acrobat Stack-Based Buffer Overflow (high 8.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2014-0511](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2014-0511/): Memory corruption in n/a (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2014-0512](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2014-0512/): Security feature bypass in n/a (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2004-1152](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2004-1152/): Memory corruption in n/a (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2004-1153](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2004-1153/): Memory corruption in n/a (critical 10.0)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2009-2564 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2009-2564 is a high-severity vulnerability in Adobe Acrobat Reader, published on 21 Jul 2009. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2009-2564 exists.

Affected product: Adobe Acrobat Reader. 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-2009-2564/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2009-2564/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2009-2564
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2009-2564
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2009-2564

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2009-2564/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.