CVE-2009-3608

CVE-2009-3608 is a critical-severity vulnerability in Foolabs Xpdf with a CVSS 2.0 base score of 9.3. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score of 10% places it in the 95th percentile, indicating an elevated likelihood of exploitation. The underlying weakness is classified as CWE-189.

Key facts

• Severity: Critical (CVSS 2.0 base score 9.3)
• EPSS exploit prediction: 10% (95th 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 ObjectStream::ObjectStream function in XRef.cc in Xpdf 3.x before 3.02pl4 and Poppler before 0.12.1, as used in GPdf, kdegraphics KPDF, CUPS pdftops, and teTeX, might allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted PDF document that triggers a heap-based buffer overflow.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2009-3608?

Integer overflow in the ObjectStream::ObjectStream function in XRef.cc in Xpdf 3.x before 3.02pl4 and Poppler before 0.12.1, as used in GPdf, kdegraphics KPDF, CUPS pdftops, and teTeX, might allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted PDF document that triggers a heap-based buffer overflow.

How severe is CVE-2009-3608?

CVE-2009-3608 has a CVSS 2.0 base score of 9.3, rated critical severity.

Is CVE-2009-3608 being actively exploited?

It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 10% (95th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

What products are affected by CVE-2009-3608?

CVE-2009-3608 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-2009-3608?

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-2009-3608 published?

CVE-2009-3608 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/37028
• http://secunia.com/advisories/37034
• http://secunia.com/advisories/37037
• http://secunia.com/advisories/37043
• http://secunia.com/advisories/37051
• http://secunia.com/advisories/37053
• http://secunia.com/advisories/37054
• http://secunia.com/advisories/37061
• 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://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/2009/dsa-1941
• 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-2009:334
• http://www.mandriva.com/security/advisories?name=MDVSA-2011:175
• http://www.ocert.org/advisories/ocert-2009-016.html

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-2009-3606 — 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-2009-3603 — 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 →

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