# CVE-2009-4117: Memory corruption in n/a

> Remote attackers can execute arbitrary code or cause denial of service via crafted PDF shading data in MuPDF library.

- **Severity:** Critical 9.3 (`AV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** A user has to click or open something
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 1 Dec 2009
- **Updated:** 16 Sep 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-5m5r-69xr-2fx8

## What is CVE-2009-4117?

CVE-2009-4117 is a critical memory corruption vulnerability in n/a, published on 1 Dec 2009. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.

### Official description

Multiple stack-based buffer overflows in pdf_shade4.c in MuPDF before commit 20091125231942, as used in SumatraPDF before 1.0.1, allow remote attackers to cause a denial of service and possibly execute arbitrary code via a /Decode array for certain types of shading that are not properly handled by the (1) pdf_loadtype4shade, (2) pdf_loadtype5shade, (3) pdf_loadtype6shade, and (4) pdf_loadtype7shade functions.  NOTE: some of these details are obtained from third party information.

Weakness: CWE-119 (Improper Restriction of Operations within the Bounds of a Memory Buffer)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2009-4117?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Sumatrapdfreader Sumatrapdf.

## How do I fix CVE-2009-4117?

No fix has been published for CVE-2009-4117 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2009-4117 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2009-4117 exists.

Public exploit code:

- MuPDF < 20091125231942 - 'pdf_shade4.c' Multiple Stack Buffer Overflows (exploitdb)

## Other vulnerabilities in n/a

- [CVE-2012-4895](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2012-4895/): Memory corruption in n/a (critical 9.3)
- [CVE-2012-4896](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2012-4896/): Memory corruption in n/a (critical 9.3)
- [CVE-2026-23512](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-23512/): SumatraPDF has an Untrusted Search Path in sumatrapdf/src/AppTools.cpp (high 8.6)
- [CVE-2026-25880](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-25880/): Untrusted Search Path in SumatraPDF Reader (explorer.exe on Windows) (high 7.8)
- [CVE-2013-2830](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2013-2830/): Use after free in n/a (high 7.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2009-4117 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2009-4117 is a critical memory corruption vulnerability in n/a, published on 1 Dec 2009. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2009-4117 exists.

Affected product: n/a. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2009-4117/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2009-4117/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2009-4117
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2009-4117
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2009-4117

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2009-4117/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.