CVE-2023-42038

Code execution via unchecked PDF data length

Published May 3, 2024 · Updated Sep 18, 2024

Heap-based buffer overflow in Tungsten Automation Power PDF before 5.0.0.12 allows attackers to execute code via a crafted PDF file. The PDF parser copies user-supplied data into a fixed-length heap buffer without first validating that the input length fits the destination. Exploitation requires a user to open the malicious file or visit a malicious page, and successful code execution runs in the current process context.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.40%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Heap-based buffer overflow in Tungsten Automation Power PDF before 5.0.0.12 allows attackers to execute code via a crafted PDF file. The PDF parser copies user-supplied data into a fixed-length heap buffer without first validating that the input length fits the destination. Exploitation requires a user to open the malicious file or visit a malicious page, and successful code execution runs in the current process context.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-42038
Published
May 3, 2024
Updated
Sep 18, 2024
Vendor
Tungsten Automation
Product
Power PDF
Classifications
CWE-122, T1204.002, T1203
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. May 3, 2024CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Sep 18, 2024Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

Compare your product and version with the public record. A matching version still requires validation against your environment.

Is a vulnerable build present?

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

  1. Affected versionversion=0 <5.0.0.12
  2. Affected versionversion=5.0.0.57 (5.0.0.10)

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Tungsten Automation · Power PDFversion=0 <5.0.0.12; version=5.0.0.57 (5.0.0.10)

Published CVSS scores

7.8Zero Day InitiativeCVSS:3.0/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.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-122Heap-based Buffer Overflow
T1204.002Malicious File
T1203Exploitation for Client Execution

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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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