# CVE-2023-6298: Apryse iText PdfDocument.java main array index

> Improper array index validation in iText may cause denial of service, though the vendor disputes this is a security vulnerability.

- **Severity:** Medium 4.3 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:L`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** A user has to click or open something
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 26 Nov 2023
- **Updated:** 13 Feb 2025
- **Also known as:** GHSA-3g98-4f8c-vh63, UBUNTU-CVE-2023-6298

## What is CVE-2023-6298?

CVE-2023-6298 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Apryse iText, published on 26 Nov 2023. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.

### Official description

A vulnerability classified as problematic was found in Apryse iText 8.0.2. This vulnerability affects the function main of the file PdfDocument.java. The manipulation leads to improper validation of array index. The attack can be initiated remotely. The exploit has been disclosed to the public and may be used. The real existence of this vulnerability is still doubted at the moment. The identifier of this vulnerability is VDB-246124. NOTE: The vendor was contacted early about this disclosure but did not respond in any way. A statement published afterwards explains that the exception is not a vulnerability and the identified CWEs might not apply to the software.

Weakness: CWE-129 (Improper Validation of Array Index)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2023-6298?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Itextpdf Itext.

## How do I fix CVE-2023-6298?

No fix has been published for CVE-2023-6298 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2023-6298 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2023-6298 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Apryse iText

- [CVE-2017-9096](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-9096/): Improper Restriction of XML External Entity Reference in iText (high 8.8)
- [CVE-2022-24196](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-24196/): Allocation of Resources Without Limits or Throttling in iText (medium 6.5)
- [CVE-2022-24197](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-24197/): Out-of-bounds Write in iText (medium 6.5)
- [CVE-2022-24198](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-24198/): Out-of-bounds Read in iText (medium 6.5)
- [CVE-2023-6299](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-6299/): Apryse iText Reference Table PdfDocument.java memory leak (medium 4.3)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2023-6298 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2023-6298 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Apryse iText, published on 26 Nov 2023. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2023-6298 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Apryse iText. 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-2023-6298/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-6298/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-6298
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-6298
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2023-6298

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-6298/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.