CVE-2009-3603

CVE-2009-3603 is a critical-severity vulnerability in Foolabs Xpdf with a CVSS 2.0 base score of 9.3. It is not currently listed as actively exploited by CISA, and its EPSS exploit-prediction score is low. The underlying weakness is classified as CWE-189.

Key facts

• Severity: Critical (CVSS 2.0 base score 9.3)
• EPSS exploit prediction: 9% (94th percentile)
• Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
• Weakness: CWE-189
• Affected product: Foolabs Xpdf
• Published: 2009-10-21
• Last modified: 2026-06-16

Description

Integer overflow in the SplashBitmap::SplashBitmap function in Xpdf 3.x before 3.02pl4 and Poppler before 0.12.1 might allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted PDF document that triggers a heap-based buffer overflow. NOTE: some of these details are obtained from third party information. NOTE: this issue reportedly exists because of an incomplete fix for CVE-2009-1188.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2009-3603?

Integer overflow in the SplashBitmap::SplashBitmap function in Xpdf 3.x before 3.02pl4 and Poppler before 0.12.1 might allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted PDF document that triggers a heap-based buffer overflow. NOTE: some of these details are obtained from third party information. NOTE: this issue reportedly exists because of an incomplete fix for CVE-2009-1188.

How severe is CVE-2009-3603?

CVE-2009-3603 has a CVSS 2.0 base score of 9.3, rated critical severity.

Is CVE-2009-3603 being actively exploited?

It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 9% (94th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

What products are affected by CVE-2009-3603?

CVE-2009-3603 primarily affects Foolabs Xpdf. In total, 58 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.

How do I fix CVE-2009-3603?

Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround. Given its critical severity, prioritise patching exposed systems.

When was CVE-2009-3603 published?

CVE-2009-3603 was published on 2009-10-21 and last updated on 2026-06-16.

References

• ftp://ftp.foolabs.com/pub/xpdf/xpdf-3.02pl4.patch
• http://lists.fedoraproject.org/pipermail/package-announce/2010-February/035340.html
• http://lists.fedoraproject.org/pipermail/package-announce/2010-February/035399.html
• http://lists.fedoraproject.org/pipermail/package-announce/2010-February/035408.html
• http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2009-11/msg00004.html
• http://poppler.freedesktop.org/
• http://secunia.com/advisories/37034
• http://secunia.com/advisories/37053
• http://secunia.com/advisories/37054
• http://secunia.com/advisories/37114
• http://secunia.com/advisories/37159
• http://secunia.com/advisories/39327
• http://secunia.com/advisories/39938
• http://securitytracker.com/id?1023029
• http://sunsolve.sun.com/search/document.do?assetkey=1-66-274030-1
• http://sunsolve.sun.com/search/document.do?assetkey=1-77-1021706.1-1
• http://www.debian.org/security/2010/dsa-2028
• http://www.debian.org/security/2010/dsa-2050
• http://www.mandriva.com/security/advisories?name=MDVSA-2009:287
• http://www.mandriva.com/security/advisories?name=MDVSA-2010:087
• http://www.mandriva.com/security/advisories?name=MDVSA-2011:175
• http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/36703
• http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-850-1
• http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-850-3
• http://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2009/2924
• http://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2009/2925
• http://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2010/0802
• http://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2010/1040
• http://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2010/1220
• https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=526915

Affected products (58)

• cpe:2.3:a:foolabs:xpdf:3.02pl1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:foolabs:xpdf:3.02pl2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:foolabs:xpdf:3.02pl3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:glyphandcog:xpdfreader:3.00:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:glyphandcog:xpdfreader:3.01:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:glyphandcog:xpdfreader:3.02:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:poppler:poppler:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:poppler:poppler:0.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:poppler:poppler:0.1.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:poppler:poppler:0.1.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:poppler:poppler:0.2.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:poppler:poppler:0.3.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:poppler:poppler:0.3.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:poppler:poppler:0.3.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:poppler:poppler:0.3.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:poppler:poppler:0.4.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:poppler:poppler:0.4.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:poppler:poppler:0.4.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:poppler:poppler:0.4.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:poppler:poppler:0.4.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:poppler:poppler:0.5.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:poppler:poppler:0.5.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:poppler:poppler:0.5.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:poppler:poppler:0.5.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:poppler:poppler:0.5.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:poppler:poppler:0.5.9:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:poppler:poppler:0.6.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:poppler:poppler:0.6.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:poppler:poppler:0.6.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:poppler:poppler:0.6.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:poppler:poppler:0.6.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:poppler:poppler:0.7.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:poppler:poppler:0.7.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:poppler:poppler:0.7.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:poppler:poppler:0.7.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:poppler:poppler:0.8.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:poppler:poppler:0.8.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:poppler:poppler:0.8.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:poppler:poppler:0.8.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:poppler:poppler:0.8.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

More vulnerabilities in Foolabs Xpdf

• CVE-2009-0165 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): Integer overflow in the JBIG2 decoder in Xpdf 3.02pl2 and earlier, as used in Poppler and other products, when running…
• CVE-2009-3608 — Critical (CVSS 9.3): Integer overflow in the ObjectStream::ObjectStream function in XRef.cc in Xpdf 3.x before 3.02pl4 and Poppler before…
• CVE-2009-3606 — Critical (CVSS 9.3): Integer overflow in the PSOutputDev::doImageL1Sep function in Xpdf before 3.02pl4, and Poppler 0.x, as used in…
• CVE-2009-3604 — Critical (CVSS 9.3): The Splash::drawImage function in Splash.cc in Xpdf 2.x and 3.x before 3.02pl4, and Poppler 0.x, as used in GPdf and…
• CVE-2009-1182 — High (CVSS 7.5): Multiple buffer overflows in the JBIG2 MMR decoder in Xpdf 3.02pl2 and earlier, CUPS 1.3.9 and earlier, Poppler before…
• CVE-2009-1144 — Medium (CVSS 6.9): Untrusted search path vulnerability in the Gentoo package of Xpdf before 3.02-r2 allows local users to gain privileges…

All CVEs affecting Foolabs Xpdf →

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