CVE-2012-2142

Command execution via unsanitized terminal escape sequences

Published Jan 9, 2020 · Updated Aug 6, 2024

Terminal escape injection in Error.cc in Poppler before 0.21.4 allows remote attackers to execute commands through a crafted PDF. The error function writes PDF-derived error text to callbacks or standard error without replacing control and non-ASCII bytes, allowing terminal escape sequences to reach a terminal emulator. Exploitation requires a local user to open the document in a Poppler-linked application, after which the terminal can change a window title, execute commands, or overwrite files with that user's privileges.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability2.94%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Terminal escape injection in Error.cc in Poppler before 0.21.4 allows remote attackers to execute commands through a crafted PDF. The error function writes PDF-derived error text to callbacks or standard error without replacing control and non-ASCII bytes, allowing terminal escape sequences to reach a terminal emulator. Exploitation requires a local user to open the document in a Poppler-linked application, after which the terminal can change a window title, execute commands, or overwrite files with that user's privileges.

The record

CVE
CVE-2012-2142
Published
Jan 9, 2020
Updated
Aug 6, 2024
Vendor
Libslirp Project
Product
Poppler
Classifications
T1204.002
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jan 9, 2020CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 6, 2024Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=before 0.21.4

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Libslirp Project · Popplerversion=before 0.21.4

Published CVSS scores

6.8NVDAV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P
7.8NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

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No observations available

Sep 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

T1204.002User Execution: Malicious File

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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