CVE-2023-42069 PDF-XChange Editor PDF File Parsing Stack-based Buffer Overflow Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
Remote attackers can execute arbitrary code by tricking users into opening malicious PDF files in PDF-XChange Editor due to a stack-based buffer overflow.
- 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
- None listed
What is CVE-2023-42069?
CVE-2023-42069 is a high-severity memory corruption vulnerability in Pdf-Xchange Pdf-Tools, published on 3 May 2024. 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
PDF-XChange Editor PDF File Parsing Stack-based Buffer Overflow Remote Code Execution Vulnerability. This vulnerability allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected installations of PDF-XChange Editor. User interaction is required to exploit this vulnerability in that the target must visit a malicious page or open a malicious file.
The specific flaw exists within the parsing of PDF files. The issue results from the lack of proper validation of the length of user-supplied data prior to copying it to a fixed-length stack-based buffer. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to execute code in the context of the current process. Was ZDI-CAN-21166.
Which versions are affected by CVE-2023-42069?
It affects 2 products.
Products include Pdf-Xchange Pdf-Tools, Pdf-Xchange Pdf-Xchange Editor.
How do I fix CVE-2023-42069?
No fix has been published for CVE-2023-42069 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.
Upgrade to the fixed version. Memory-safe languages, compiler hardening and fuzzing prevent most new cases. More about Memory corruption.
Is CVE-2023-42069 being exploited?
There is no known exploitation of CVE-2023-42069 in the wild and no public exploit code.
Other vulnerabilities in Pdf-Xchange Pdf-Tools
- CVE-2025-6640 PDF-XChange Editor U3D File Parsing Use-After-Free Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
- CVE-2025-6642 PDF-XChange Editor U3D File Parsing Out-Of-Bounds Read Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
- CVE-2025-6644 PDF-XChange Editor U3D File Parsing Use-After-Free Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
- CVE-2025-6645 PDF-XChange Editor U3D File Parsing Use-After-Free Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
- CVE-2025-6647 PDF-XChange Editor U3D File Parsing Out-Of-Bounds Write Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
Sources
Also known as GHSA-q6j3-4jqj-3hgc.