CVE-2009-3604

CVE-2009-3604 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-399.

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-399
• Affected product: Foolabs Xpdf
• Published: 2009-10-21
• Last modified: 2026-06-16

Description

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 kdegraphics KPDF, does not properly allocate memory, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (application crash) or possibly execute arbitrary code via a crafted PDF document that triggers a NULL pointer dereference or a heap-based buffer overflow.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2009-3604?

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 kdegraphics KPDF, does not properly allocate memory, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (application crash) or possibly execute arbitrary code via a crafted PDF document that triggers a NULL pointer dereference or a heap-based buffer overflow.

How severe is CVE-2009-3604?

CVE-2009-3604 has a CVSS 2.0 base score of 9.3, rated critical severity.

Is CVE-2009-3604 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-2009-3604?

CVE-2009-3604 primarily affects Foolabs Xpdf. In total, 65 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.

How do I fix CVE-2009-3604?

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-2009-3604 published?

CVE-2009-3604 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://cgit.freedesktop.org/poppler/poppler/commit/?id=9cf2325fb2
• http://cgit.freedesktop.org/poppler/poppler/diff/?id=284a928996&id2=75c3466ba2
• 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://secunia.com/advisories/37023
• http://secunia.com/advisories/37028
• http://secunia.com/advisories/37037
• http://secunia.com/advisories/37042
• http://secunia.com/advisories/37043
• http://secunia.com/advisories/37053
• http://secunia.com/advisories/37077
• http://secunia.com/advisories/37079
• 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://site.pi3.com.pl/adv/xpdf.txt
• 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

Affected products (65)

• 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:2.00:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:glyphandcog:xpdfreader:2.01:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:glyphandcog:xpdfreader:2.02:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:glyphandcog:xpdfreader:2.03:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• 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: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:0.5.90:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:poppler:poppler:0.5.91:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• 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:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

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-2009-3603 — Critical (CVSS 9.3): Integer overflow in the SplashBitmap::SplashBitmap function in Xpdf 3.x before 3.02pl4 and Poppler before 0.12.1 might…
• 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 →

Other CWE-399 (Resource Management Errors) vulnerabilities

• CVE-2015-8104 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): The KVM subsystem in the Linux kernel through 4.2.6, and Xen 4.3.x through 4.6.x, allows guest OS users to cause a…
• CVE-2015-0339 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): Adobe Flash Player before 13.0.0.277 and 14.x through 17.x before 17.0.0.134 on Windows and OS X and before…
• CVE-2015-0335 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): Adobe Flash Player before 13.0.0.277 and 14.x through 17.x before 17.0.0.134 on Windows and OS X and before…
• CVE-2015-0333 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): Adobe Flash Player before 13.0.0.277 and 14.x through 17.x before 17.0.0.134 on Windows and OS X and before…
• CVE-2014-4121 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0 SP2, 3.5, 3.5.1, 4, 4.5, 4.5.1, and 4.5.2 does not properly parse internationalized…
• CVE-2014-0560 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): Use-after-free vulnerability in Adobe Reader and Acrobat 10.x before 10.1.12 and 11.x before 11.0.09 on Windows and OS…

Browse all CWE-399 (Resource Management Errors) vulnerabilities →