CVE-2021-36978: Buffer Overflow
First published: Tue Jul 20 2021(Updated: )
QPDF 9.x through 9.1.1 and 10.x through 10.0.4 has a heap-based buffer overflow in Pl_ASCII85Decoder::write (called from Pl_AES_PDF::flush and Pl_AES_PDF::finish) when a certain downstream write fails.
Credit: cve@mitre.org
| Affected Software | Affected Version | How to fix |
|---|---|---|
| qpdf | >=9.0.0<=9.1.1 | |
| qpdf | >=10.0.0<=10.0.4 |
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Reference Links
- https://github.com/qpdf/qpdf/issues/492
- https://github.com/qpdf/qpdf/commit/dc92574c10f3e2516ec6445b88c5d584f40df4e5
- https://github.com/google/oss-fuzz-vulns/blob/main/vulns/qpdf/OSV-2020-2245.yaml
- https://bugs.chromium.org/p/oss-fuzz/issues/detail?id=28262
- https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2023/08/msg00037.html
- https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/202401-20
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the severity of CVE-2021-36978?
CVE-2021-36978 is classified as a critical vulnerability due to its potential for a heap-based buffer overflow.
How do I fix CVE-2021-36978?
To fix CVE-2021-36978, update QPDF to version 9.1.2 or later, or 10.0.5 or later.
What versions of QPDF are affected by CVE-2021-36978?
CVE-2021-36978 affects QPDF versions 9.x through 9.1.1 and 10.x through 10.0.4.
What types of attacks could exploit CVE-2021-36978?
CVE-2021-36978 could be exploited through specially crafted PDF files that trigger buffer overflow conditions.
Is CVE-2021-36978 related to any specific functionality in QPDF?
CVE-2021-36978 involves a vulnerability in the Pl_ASCII85Decoder and its interaction with heap memory management.
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- collector/nvd-index
- agent/software-canonical-lookup-request
- collector/nvd-api
- source/NVD
- agent/software-canonical-lookup
- vendor/qpdf project
- canonical/qpdf
- version/qpdf/9.0.0
- version/qpdf/9.1.1
- version/qpdf/10.0.0
- version/qpdf/10.0.4