# CVE-2021-23158: Memory corruption in htmldoc

> A double-free vulnerability in htmldoc allows attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause denial of service via crafted input.

- **Severity:** Critical 9.8 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/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:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 16 Mar 2022
- **Updated:** 3 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** DEBIAN-CVE-2021-23158, GHSA-hgcq-f5fx-5qp6, UBUNTU-CVE-2021-23158

## What is CVE-2021-23158?

CVE-2021-23158 is a critical memory corruption vulnerability in htmldoc, published on 16 Mar 2022. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

A flaw was found in htmldoc in v1.9.12. Double-free in function pspdf_export(),in ps-pdf.cxx may result in a write-what-where condition, allowing an attacker to execute arbitrary code and denial of service.

Weakness: CWE-415 (Double Free)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2021-23158?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Htmldoc Project Htmldoc.

## How do I fix CVE-2021-23158?

Apply the vendor's patch.

## Is CVE-2021-23158 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-23158 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in htmldoc

- [CVE-2024-46478](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-46478/): Memory corruption in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2024-45508](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-45508/): Memory corruption in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2021-23165](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-23165/): Memory corruption in htmldoc (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2021-34119](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-34119/): Memory corruption in n/a (high 7.8)
- [CVE-2021-34121](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-34121/): Information disclosure in n/a (high 7.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2021-23158 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2021-23158 is a critical memory corruption vulnerability in htmldoc, published on 16 Mar 2022. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-23158 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: htmldoc. 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-2021-23158/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-23158/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2021-23158
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-23158
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2021-23158

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-23158/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.