# CVE-2019-5053: Use after free in NitroPDF

> A use-after-free vulnerability in NitroPDF allows attackers to execute arbitrary code via a specially crafted PDF file.

- **Severity:** High 7.5 (`CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **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:** 9 Oct 2019
- **Updated:** 4 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-c4r3-cm4j-7qqm

## What is CVE-2019-5053?

CVE-2019-5053 is a high-severity use after free vulnerability in NitroPDF, published on 9 Oct 2019. 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

An exploitable use-after-free vulnerability exists in the Length parsing function of NitroPDF. A specially crafted PDF can cause a type confusion, resulting in a use-after-free condition. An attacker can craft a malicious PDF to trigger this vulnerability.

Weakness: CWE-416 (Use After Free)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2019-5053?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Gonitro Nitropdf.

## How do I fix CVE-2019-5053?

No fix has been published for CVE-2019-5053 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2019-5053 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2019-5053 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in NitroPDF

- [CVE-2019-5045](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-5045/): Memory corruption in NitroPDF (high 8.8)
- [CVE-2019-5046](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-5046/): Memory corruption in NitroPDF (high 8.8)
- [CVE-2019-5048](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-5048/): Memory corruption in NitroPDF (high 8.8)
- [CVE-2019-5050](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-5050/): Memory corruption in NitroPDF (high 8.8)
- [CVE-2013-2773](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2013-2773/): Other in n/a (high 7.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2019-5053 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2019-5053 is a high-severity use after free vulnerability in NitroPDF, published on 9 Oct 2019. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2019-5053 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: NitroPDF. 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-2019-5053/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-5053/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2019-5053
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2019-5053
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2019-5053

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-5053/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.