CVE-2021-30472Public exploit

Memory corruption via unchecked encryption key length

Published May 26, 2021 · Updated Aug 3, 2024

Stack-based buffer overflow in PoDoFo 0.9.7 allows local users to corrupt process memory by processing a crafted encrypted PDF. PdfEncryptMD5Base::ComputeOwnerKey uses a keyLength of 32 to index 16-byte mkey and digest stack buffers, writing past mkey and reading past digest. Processing attacker-supplied PDF content is required, and the demonstrated consequence is a crash with exploitable stack corruption.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.76%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Stack-based buffer overflow in PoDoFo 0.9.7 allows local users to corrupt process memory by processing a crafted encrypted PDF. PdfEncryptMD5Base::ComputeOwnerKey uses a keyLength of 32 to index 16-byte mkey and digest stack buffers, writing past mkey and reading past digest. Processing attacker-supplied PDF content is required, and the demonstrated consequence is a crash with exploitable stack corruption.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-30472
Published
May 26, 2021
Updated
Aug 3, 2024
Vendor
PoDoFo Project
Product
PoDoFo
Classifications
CWE-787, CWE-119, T1203
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. May 26, 2021CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 3, 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=PoDoFo 0.9.7

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

PoDoFo Project · PoDoFoversion=PoDoFo 0.9.7

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 exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-787Out-of-bounds Write
CWE-119Improper Restriction of Operations within the Bounds of a Memory Buffer
T1203Exploitation for Client Execution

Public exploit references

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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