# CVE-2021-42702: Inkscape Access of Uninitialized Pointer

> An attacker can exploit an uninitialized pointer in Inkscape to access unauthorized information, potentially leaking sensitive memory contents.

- **Severity:** Low 3.3 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** A user has to click or open something
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 18 May 2022
- **Updated:** 16 Apr 2025
- **Also known as:** DEBIAN-CVE-2021-42702, GHSA-jg27-pgxp-gcv8, UBUNTU-CVE-2021-42702

## What is CVE-2021-42702?

CVE-2021-42702 is a low-severity vulnerability in Inkscape, published on 18 May 2022. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.

### Official description

Inkscape version 0.91 can access an uninitialized pointer, which may allow an attacker to have access to unauthorized information.

Weakness: CWE-824 (Access of Uninitialized Pointer)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2021-42702?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Inkscape Inkscape.

## How do I fix CVE-2021-42702?

Upgrade to a fixed version.

## Is CVE-2021-42702 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2021-42702 exists.

## Other vulnerabilities in Inkscape

- [CVE-2021-42704](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-42704/): Inkscape Out-of-bounds Write (high 7.8)
- [CVE-2007-1463](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2007-1463/): Memory corruption in n/a (medium 6.8)
- [CVE-2007-1464](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2007-1464/): Other in n/a (medium 6.8)
- [CVE-2026-4980](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-4980/): Improper Restriction of XML External Entity Reference in Inkscape (medium 6.3)
- [CVE-2005-3737](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2005-3737/): Memory corruption in n/a (medium 5.1)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2021-42702 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2021-42702 is a low-severity vulnerability in Inkscape, published on 18 May 2022. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, 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-2021-42702 exists.

Affected product: Inkscape. 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-2021-42702/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-42702/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2021-42702
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-42702
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2021-42702

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-42702/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.