# CVE-2024-2971: Out-of-bounds array access due to negative object numbers in indirect references in Xpdf 4.05

> An attacker can trigger an out-of-bounds array write in Xpdf via a malicious PDF, potentially leading to code execution or application crash.

- **Severity:** Low 2.9 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:L`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 26 Mar 2024
- **Updated:** 6 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-jvwm-5xhx-5mqp, UBUNTU-CVE-2024-2971

## What is CVE-2024-2971?

CVE-2024-2971 is a low-severity memory corruption vulnerability in Xpdfreader Xpdf, published on 26 Mar 2024. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

Out-of-bounds array write in Xpdf 4.05 and earlier, triggered by negative object number in indirect reference in the input PDF file.

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

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2024-2971?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Xpdfreader Xpdf.

## How do I fix CVE-2024-2971?

No fix has been published for CVE-2024-2971 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2024-2971 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2024-2971 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Xpdfreader Xpdf

- [CVE-2022-38928](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-38928/): Null dereference in n/a (high 7.8)
- [CVE-2022-38222](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-38222/): Use after free in n/a (high 7.8)
- [CVE-2022-33108](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-33108/): Memory corruption in n/a (high 7.8)
- [CVE-2022-30524](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-30524/): Memory corruption in n/a (high 7.8)
- [CVE-2020-24996](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-24996/): Memory corruption in n/a (high 7.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2024-2971 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2024-2971 is a low-severity memory corruption vulnerability in Xpdfreader Xpdf, published on 26 Mar 2024. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2024-2971 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Xpdfreader Xpdf. 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-2024-2971/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-2971/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2024-2971
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-2971
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2024-2971

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-2971/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.