How severe is CVE-2009-3938?

CVE-2009-3938 has a CVSS 2.0 base score of 6.8, rated medium severity.

Is CVE-2009-3938 being actively exploited?

It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 5% (92nd percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

What products are affected by CVE-2009-3938?

CVE-2009-3938 primarily affects Poppler. In total, 2 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.

How do I fix CVE-2009-3938?

Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround.

When was CVE-2009-3938 published?

CVE-2009-3938 was published on 2009-11-13 and last updated on 2026-06-16.

CVE-2009-3938

CVE-2009-3938 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Poppler with a CVSS 2.0 base score of 6.8. 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-119.

Key facts

Severity: Medium (CVSS 2.0 base score 6.8)
EPSS exploit prediction: 5% (92nd percentile)
Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
Weakness: CWE-119
Affected product: Poppler
Published: 2009-11-13
Last modified: 2026-06-16

Description

Buffer overflow in the ABWOutputDev::endWord function in poppler/ABWOutputDev.cc in Poppler (aka libpoppler) 0.10.6, 0.12.0, and possibly other versions, as used by the Abiword pdftoabw utility, allows user-assisted remote attackers to cause a denial of service and possibly execute arbitrary code via a crafted PDF file.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2009-3938?: Buffer overflow in the ABWOutputDev::endWord function in poppler/ABWOutputDev.cc in Poppler (aka libpoppler) 0.10.6, 0.12.0, and possibly other versions, as used by the Abiword pdftoabw utility, allows user-assisted remote attackers to cause a denial of service and possibly execute arbitrary code via a crafted PDF file.
How severe is CVE-2009-3938?: CVE-2009-3938 has a CVSS 2.0 base score of 6.8, rated medium severity.
Is CVE-2009-3938 being actively exploited?: It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 5% (92nd percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
What products are affected by CVE-2009-3938?: CVE-2009-3938 primarily affects Poppler. In total, 2 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.
How do I fix CVE-2009-3938?: Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround.
When was CVE-2009-3938 published?: CVE-2009-3938 was published on 2009-11-13 and last updated on 2026-06-16.

References

Affected products (2)

cpe:2.3:a:poppler:poppler:0.10.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:poppler:poppler:0.12.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

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