« Back to list

CVE-2023-39501

Status: AnalyzedHigh (7.8)—

PDF-XChange Editor OXPS File Parsing Untrusted Pointer Dereference Remote Code Execution Vulnerability. This vulnerability allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected installations of PDF-XChange Editor. User interaction is required to exploit this vulnerability in that the target must visit a malicious page or open a malicious file.

The specific flaw exists within the parsing of OXPS files. The issue results from the lack of proper validation of a user-supplied value prior to dereferencing it as a pointer. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to execute code in the context of the current process. Was ZDI-CAN-20034.

CVSS

Exploitation probability (EPSS)

EPSS (Exploit Prediction Scoring System, FIRST) estimates how likely a vulnerability is to be exploited in the wild within 30 days. It complements CVSS (impact) and CISA KEV (confirmed exploitation).

Affected technologies (2)

CWEs

References

Raw JSON (NVD)

Show
{
  "id": "CVE-2023-39501",
  "cveTags": [],
  "metrics": {
    "ssvcV203": [
      {
        "source": "134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0",
        "ssvcData": {
          "id": "CVE-2023-39501",
          "role": "CISA Coordinator",
          "options": [
            {
              "exploitation": "none"
            },
            {
              "automatable": "no"
            },
            {
              "technicalImpact": "total"
            }
          ],
          "version": "2.0.3",
          "timestamp": "2024-05-15T18:12:53.038504Z"
        }
      }
    ],
    "cvssMetricV30": [
      {
        "type": "Secondary",
        "source": "zdi-disclosures@trendmicro.com",
        "cvssData": {
          "scope": "UNCHANGED",
          "version": "3.0",
          "baseScore": 7.8,
          "attackVector": "LOCAL",
          "baseSeverity": "HIGH",
          "vectorString": "CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H",
          "integrityImpact": "HIGH",
          "userInteraction": "REQUIRED",
          "attackComplexity": "LOW",
          "availabilityImpact": "HIGH",
          "privilegesRequired": "NONE",
          "confidentialityImpact": "HIGH"
        },
        "impactScore": 5.9,
        "exploitabilityScore": 1.8
      }
    ],
    "cvssMetricV31": [
      {
        "type": "Primary",
        "source": "nvd@nist.gov",
        "cvssData": {
          "scope": "UNCHANGED",
          "version": "3.1",
          "baseScore": 7.8,
          "attackVector": "LOCAL",
          "baseSeverity": "HIGH",
          "vectorString": "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H",
          "integrityImpact": "HIGH",
          "userInteraction": "REQUIRED",
          "attackComplexity": "LOW",
          "availabilityImpact": "HIGH",
          "privilegesRequired": "NONE",
          "confidentialityImpact": "HIGH"
        },
        "impactScore": 5.9,
        "exploitabilityScore": 1.8
      }
    ]
  },
  "affected": [
    {
      "source": "zdi-disclosures@trendmicro.com",
      "affectedData": [
        {
          "vendor": "PDF-XChange",
          "product": "PDF-XChange Editor",
          "versions": [
            {
              "status": "affected",
              "version": "9.5.366.0"
            }
          ],
          "defaultStatus": "unknown"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "source": "134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0",
      "affectedData": [
        {
          "cpes": [
            "cpe:2.3:a:tracker-software:pdf-xchange_editor:9.5.366.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*"
          ],
          "vendor": "tracker-software",
          "product": "pdf-xchange_editor",
          "versions": [
            {
              "status": "affected",
              "version": "9.5.366.0"
            }
          ],
          "defaultStatus": "unknown"
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "published": "2024-05-03T03:15:17.960",
  "references": [
    {
      "url": "https://www.zerodayinitiative.com/advisories/ZDI-23-1135/",
      "tags": [
        "Third Party Advisory"
      ],
      "source": "zdi-disclosures@trendmicro.com"
    },
    {
      "url": "https://www.zerodayinitiative.com/advisories/ZDI-23-1135/",
      "tags": [
        "Third Party Advisory"
      ],
      "source": "af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108"
    }
  ],
  "vulnStatus": "Analyzed",
  "weaknesses": [
    {
      "type": "Secondary",
      "source": "zdi-disclosures@trendmicro.com",
      "description": [
        {
          "lang": "en",
          "value": "CWE-822"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "type": "Primary",
      "source": "nvd@nist.gov",
      "description": [
        {
          "lang": "en",
          "value": "NVD-CWE-Other"
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "descriptions": [
    {
      "lang": "en",
      "value": "PDF-XChange Editor OXPS File Parsing Untrusted Pointer Dereference Remote Code Execution Vulnerability. This vulnerability allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected installations of PDF-XChange Editor. User interaction is required to exploit this vulnerability in that the target must visit a malicious page or open a malicious file.\n\nThe specific flaw exists within the parsing of OXPS files. The issue results from the lack of proper validation of a user-supplied value prior to dereferencing it as a pointer. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to execute code in the context of the current process. Was ZDI-CAN-20034."
    },
    {
      "lang": "es",
      "value": "Vulnerabilidad de ejecución remota de código de eliminación de referencia de puntero no confiable en el análisis de archivos OXPS del editor PDF-XChange. Esta vulnerabilidad permite a atacantes remotos ejecutar código arbitrario en instalaciones afectadas de PDF-XChange Editor. Se requiere la interacción del usuario para aprovechar esta vulnerabilidad, ya que el objetivo debe visitar una página maliciosa o abrir un archivo malicioso. La falla específica existe en el análisis de archivos OXPS. El problema se debe a la falta de validación adecuada de un valor proporcionado por el usuario antes de eliminar la referencia a él como puntero. Un atacante puede aprovechar esta vulnerabilidad para ejecutar código en el contexto del proceso actual. Era ZDI-CAN-20034."
    }
  ],
  "lastModified": "2026-06-17T06:12:27.953",
  "configurations": [
    {
      "nodes": [
        {
          "negate": false,
          "cpeMatch": [
            {
              "criteria": "cpe:2.3:a:pdf-xchange:pdf-tools:9.5.366.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*",
              "vulnerable": true,
              "matchCriteriaId": "E4434152-66DF-431D-96AB-5E5A9D131AE1"
            },
            {
              "criteria": "cpe:2.3:a:pdf-xchange:pdf-xchange_editor:9.5.366.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*",
              "vulnerable": true,
              "matchCriteriaId": "7CF2F4B1-8989-46EC-9331-9D7FE70FDA0C"
            }
          ],
          "operator": "OR"
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sourceIdentifier": "zdi-disclosures@trendmicro.com"
}