# CVE-2021-40226: Memory corruption in n/a

> A buffer overflow in xpdfreader allows attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause denial of service via malicious 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:** No
- **Published:** 10 Nov 2022
- **Updated:** 1 May 2025
- **Also known as:** GHSA-3w6j-f4xj-hmhr, UBUNTU-CVE-2021-40226

## What is CVE-2021-40226?

CVE-2021-40226 is a high-severity memory corruption vulnerability in Glyphandcog Xpdfreader, published on 10 Nov 2022. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

xpdfreader 4.03 is vulnerable to Buffer Overflow.

Weakness: CWE-787 (Out-of-bounds Write)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2021-40226?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Glyphandcog Xpdfreader.

## How do I fix CVE-2021-40226?

No fix has been published for CVE-2021-40226 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2021-40226 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-40226 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Glyphandcog Xpdfreader

- [CVE-2022-24106](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-24106/): Integer overflow in n/a (high 7.8)
- [CVE-2022-24107](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-24107/): Integer overflow in n/a (high 7.8)
- [CVE-2019-16115](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-16115/): Memory corruption in n/a (high 7.8)
- [CVE-2019-14288](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-14288/): Integer overflow in n/a (high 7.8)
- [CVE-2019-13289](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-13289/): Use after free in n/a (high 7.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2021-40226 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2021-40226 is a high-severity memory corruption vulnerability in Glyphandcog Xpdfreader, published on 10 Nov 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-2021-40226 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Glyphandcog Xpdfreader. 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-2021-40226/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-40226/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2021-40226
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-40226
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2021-40226

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-40226/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.