What is CVE-2009-0176?

CVE-2009-0176 is a vulnerability in Research In Motion Limited Blackberry Enterprise Server, classified under Improper Restriction of Operations within the Bounds of a Memory Buffer. Published 2009-01-20.

Is CVE-2009-0176 known to be exploited?

2 public proof-of-concept repositories are indexed. Not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog.

Buffer overflow in Research In Motion Limited Blackberry Enterprise Server

CVE-2009-0176

Multiple heap-based buffer overflows in the PDF distiller in the Attachment Service in Research in Motion (RIM) BlackBerry Enterprise Server (BES) 4.1.3 through 4.1.6, BlackBerry Professional Software 4.1.4, and BlackBerry Unite! before 1.0.3 bundle 28 allow user-assisted remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via (1) a crafted stream in a .pdf file, related to "symWidths"; or (2) a crafted data stream in a .pdf file, related to "bitmaps."

Vulnerability class: Buffer Overflow

Published 2009-01-20 · last modified 2026-06-16.

CVSS v2 metric

CVSS v2 base score 9.3 (High). Vector: AV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C. This CVE predates CVSS v3 and has no v3 score from NVD.

EPSS exploit prediction

EPSS: 0.055 (92.6th percentile), scored 2026-09-29.

Low probability of exploitation in the next 30 days, but still tracked. 93rd percentile — 92.6% of CVEs in the catalogue have a lower EPSS than this one. How to read EPSS.

EPSS over last 30 days · oldest: 0.055 · newest: 0.055 · change: 0.000

Affected products

Research In Motion Limited Blackberry Enterprise Server — versions 4.1.3, 4.1.4, 4.1.5
Research In Motion Limited Blackberry Professional Software — versions 4.1.4
Research In Motion Limited Blackberry Unite — versions 1.0, 1.0.1, 1.0.2

Weakness classification (CWE)

CWE-119 — Improper Restriction of Operations within the Bounds of a Memory Buffer

Public proof-of-concept exploits

References

www.blackberry.com/btsc/search.do (Vendor Advisory)
www.securityfocus.com/bid/33224 (vdb-entry)
www.blackberry.com/btsc/search.do (Vendor Advisory)
labs.idefense.com/intelligence/vulnerabilities/display.php (third-party-advisory)
labs.idefense.com/intelligence/vulnerabilities/display.php (third-party-advisory)
secunia.com/advisories/33534 (Vendor Advisory, third-party-advisory)

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2009-0176?: CVE-2009-0176 is a vulnerability in Research In Motion Limited Blackberry Enterprise Server, classified under Improper Restriction of Operations within the Bounds of a Memory Buffer. Published 2009-01-20.
Is CVE-2009-0176 known to be exploited?: 2 public proof-of-concept repositories are indexed. Not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog.