In Apache PDFBox 1.8.0 to 1.8.14 and 2.0.0RC1 to 2.0.10, a carefully crafted (or fuzzed) file can trigger an infinite loop which leads to an
In Apache PDFBox 1.8.0 to 1.8.14 and 2.0.0RC1 to 2.0.10, a carefully crafted (or fuzzed) file can trigger an infinite loop which leads to an out of memory exception in Apache PDFBox's AFMParser.
- Published
- Jul 3, 2018
- Updated
- Jun 16, 2026
- EPSS
- 4.6% · 91th percentile
- CWE
- CWE-835
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Report tools
Action score
27
Monitor
Low priority for now.
- CVSS
- 26 / 40 · 6.5 / 10
- CISA KEV
- 0 / 30 · Not listed
- EPSS
- 1 / 30 · 4.6%
Affected systems
| Vendor | Product | CPE |
|---|---|---|
| apache | pdfbox | cpe:2.3:a:apache:pdfbox |
Affected versions
NVD version ranges (for catalog products). Add the product to your stack with a version and matching uses these.
- apache pdfboxafter 1.8.0 · up to 1.8.14 inclusive
- apache pdfbox2.0.0 and later · up to 2.0.10 inclusive
- apache pdfbox2.0.0
Versions reported by the vendor
Affected version ranges reported by the assigning authority (apache). Independent of NVD's CPE analysis and usually ahead of it.
Apache Software Foundation Apache PDFBox
- 1.8.0 to 1.8.14, 2.0.0RC1 to 2.0.10affected
Package-level exposure
OSV and GitHub Advisory data: ecosystem, package and range. SBOM matching uses this table.
| Ecosystem | Package | Affected range | Fix |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debian:12 | libpdfbox-java | before 1:1.8.15-1 | 1:1.8.15-1 |
| Debian:12 | libpdfbox2-java | before 2.0.11-1 | 2.0.11-1 |
| Maven | org.apache.pdfbox:pdfbox | from 1.8.0 · before 1.8.15 | 1.8.15 |
| Maven | org.apache.pdfbox:pdfbox | from 2.0.0RC1 · before 2.0.11 | 2.0.11 |
| SUSE:Linux Enterprise Module for Development Tools 15 | apache-pdfbox | before 1.8.12-5.3.13 | 1.8.12-5.3.13 |
| SUSE:Linux Enterprise Software Development Kit 12 SP3 | apache-pdfbox | before 1.8.12-3.5.4 | 1.8.12-3.5.4 |
Same product
apache: all recordsOther highest-scoring records for the same primary product.
- CVE-2019-0228Apache PDFBox 2.0.14 does not properly initialize the XML parser, which allows context-dependent attackers to conduct XML External Entity (X42Plan
- CVE-2016-2175Apache PDFBox before 1.8.12 and 2.x before 2.0.1 does not properly initialize the XML parsers, which allows context-dependent attackers to c32Monitor
- CVE-2021-31812A carefully crafted PDF file can trigger an infinite loop while loading the file23Monitor
- CVE-2021-31811A carefully crafted PDF file can trigger an OutOfMemory-Exception while loading a tiny file23Monitor
- CVE-2021-27906A carefully crafted PDF file can trigger an OutOfMemory-Exception while loading the file23Monitor
- CVE-2021-27807A carefully crafted PDF file can trigger an infinite loop while loading the file23Monitor
Remediation
Which version to upgrade to
Fix versions compiled from the vendor, package registries and Microsoft. Verify the vendor's note before upgrading.
| Product / package | Fixed version | Source |
|---|---|---|
| debian:libpdfbox-java | 1:1.8.15-1 · Debian:12 | Package registry (OSV) |
| debian:libpdfbox2-java | 2.0.11-1 · Debian:12 | Package registry (OSV) |
| Maven:org.apache.pdfbox:pdfbox | 1.8.15 | Package registry (OSV) |
| Maven:org.apache.pdfbox:pdfbox | 2.0.11 | Package registry (OSV) |
| suse:apache-pdfbox | 1.8.12-5.3.13 · SUSE:Linux Enterprise Module for Development Tools 15 | Package registry (OSV) |
Exploit status
No known public exploit
No public exploit has been observed yet. That doesn't mean you're safe, only that the bar is a little higher.
Research context
For pentesters and researchers: attack profile, score disagreement, timeline, patch commits, credits, variant and chain candidates, bug bounty scope. All derived from existing data; no exploit code.
Timeline
From publication to today: proof of concept, Metasploit module, CISA KEV and fix record. Dates are as reported by the sources.
No dated events beyond publication.
FIRST EPSS daily score; only changes of 0.01 or more are recorded (step chart).
Patch and commit links
Commit, PR and diff links among the references. A starting point for patch-diffing and variant hunting; fixes, not exploits.
No commit or PR link among the references.
Credits
All researchersFinders, reporters and analysts named in the CNA record. Click a name for that researcher’s other records.
No credits in the CNA record.
Variant candidates
Same product, same weakness class, within 18 months. If the patch missed the root cause, the sibling bug is here.
No nightly-computed relations.
Chain candidates
An authentication bypass and a privilege-requiring bug in the same product, published close together: combined they may become an unauthenticated path.
—
Bug bounty scope
No known public program.
Source: bounty-targets-data (public HackerOne, Bugcrowd, Intigriti, YesWeHack listings).
Technical details
Attack conditions
- Anyone who can reach it over the internet can trigger it.
- No account or password is required.
- A user must open a link or visit a page.
- No special conditions are required; it is repeatable.
If successful
- Confidentiality
- none
- Integrity
- none
- Availability
- high · the service can be disrupted
- Attack vector
- Network
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- Required
- Scope
- Unchanged
- Confidentiality impact
- None
- Integrity impact
- None
- Availability impact
- High
Weakness class (CWE)
CWE-835 · Loop with Unreachable Exit Condition ('Infinite Loop')CVSS vector
CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
nvd-primary
Attack context
MITRE CAPEC attack patterns and ATT&CK techniques for this weakness class (CWE). A starting point for detection rules and threat hunting.
MITRE has no CAPEC/ATT&CK mapping for this CWE.
Noroxi analysis
No Noroxi analysis for this record yet
We don't hand-write analysis for all 385,000+ vulnerabilities; that wouldn't be honest. For notable, high-impact vulnerabilities our team writes the mechanism, detection and remediation steps.
We use this product, ask for helpChange log
- Fix✗ → ✓
For records you follow, these changes also arrive as notifications. →
References
- access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2018:2669
- lists.apache.org/thread.html/9f62f742fd4fcd81654a9533b8a71349b064250840592bcd502dcfb6%40%3Cusers.pdfbox.apache.org%3E
- lists.apache.org/thread.html/r43491b25b2e5c368c34b106a82eff910a5cea3e90de82ad75cc16540%40%3Cdev.syncope.apache.org%3E
- lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/6HKVPTJWZGUB4MH4AAOWMRJHRDBYFHGJ/
- lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/POPOGHJ5CVMUVCRQU7APBAN5IVZGZFDX/
- www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpuapr2020.html
Vendor advisories and official records. Exploit/PoC links are deliberately left out.