# CVE-2023-2241: PoDoFo PdfXRefStreamParserObject.cpp readXRefStreamEntry heap-based overflow

> A heap-based buffer overflow in PoDoFo allows local attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause denial of service via crafted PDF files.

- **Severity:** Medium 5.3 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 22 Apr 2023
- **Updated:** 4 Feb 2025
- **Also known as:** GHSA-v8x8-32r8-5x52

## What is CVE-2023-2241?

CVE-2023-2241 is a medium-severity memory corruption vulnerability in Podofo Project Podofo, published on 22 Apr 2023. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

A vulnerability, which was classified as critical, was found in PoDoFo 0.10.0. Affected is the function readXRefStreamEntry of the file PdfXRefStreamParserObject.cpp. The manipulation leads to heap-based buffer overflow. An attack has to be approached locally. The exploit has been disclosed to the public and may be used. The patch is identified as 535a786f124b739e3c857529cecc29e4eeb79778. It is recommended to apply a patch to fix this issue. VDB-227226 is the identifier assigned to this vulnerability.

Weakness: CWE-787 (Out-of-bounds Write), CWE-120 (Buffer Copy without Checking Size of Input), CWE-122 (Heap-based Buffer Overflow)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2023-2241?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Podofo Project Podofo.

## How do I fix CVE-2023-2241?

No fix has been published for CVE-2023-2241 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2023-2241 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2023-2241 exists.

## Other vulnerabilities in Podofo Project Podofo

- [CVE-2017-8378](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-8378/): Memory corruption in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2015-8981](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2015-8981/): Memory corruption in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2023-31556](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-31556/): Memory corruption in n/a (high 8.8)
- [CVE-2023-31566](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-31566/): Use after free in n/a (high 8.8)
- [CVE-2023-31567](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-31567/): Memory corruption in n/a (high 8.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2023-2241 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2023-2241 is a medium-severity memory corruption vulnerability in Podofo Project Podofo, published on 22 Apr 2023. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2023-2241 exists.

Affected product: Podofo Project Podofo. 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-2023-2241/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-2241/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-2241
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-2241
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2023-2241

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-2241/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.