# CVE-2017-5991: Null dereference in n/a

> A NULL pointer dereference in MuPDF allows attackers to cause a denial of service via crafted PDF files.

- **Severity:** High 7.5 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 15 Feb 2017
- **Updated:** 5 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** ALPINE-CVE-2017-5991, DEBIAN-CVE-2017-5991, GHSA-j28p-v5hh-q229, UBUNTU-CVE-2017-5991

## What is CVE-2017-5991?

CVE-2017-5991 is a high-severity vulnerability in Artifex Mupdf, published on 15 Feb 2017. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

An issue was discovered in Artifex MuPDF before 1912de5f08e90af1d9d0a9791f58ba3afdb9d465. The pdf_run_xobject function in pdf-op-run.c encounters a NULL pointer dereference during a Fitz fz_paint_pixmap_with_mask painting operation. Versions 1.11 and later are unaffected.

Weakness: CWE-476 (NULL Pointer Dereference)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2017-5991?

It affects 2 products.


Products: Artifex Mupdf, Debian Debian Linux.

## How do I fix CVE-2017-5991?

Apply the vendor's patch.

## Is CVE-2017-5991 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2017-5991 exists.

Public exploit code:

- Artifex MuPDF - Null Pointer Dereference (exploitdb)

## Other vulnerabilities in Artifex Mupdf

- [CVE-2019-7321](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-7321/): Memory corruption in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2016-6525](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-6525/): Memory corruption in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2011-0341](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2011-0341/): Memory corruption in n/a (critical 9.3)
- [CVE-2016-8728](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-8728/): Memory corruption in MuPDF (high 8.6)
- [CVE-2021-3407](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-3407/): Use after free in mupdf (high 7.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2017-5991 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2017-5991 is a high-severity vulnerability in Artifex Mupdf, published on 15 Feb 2017. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2017-5991 exists.

Affected product: Artifex Mupdf. 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-2017-5991/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-5991/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2017-5991
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2017-5991
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2017-5991

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-5991/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.