How severe is CVE-2019-9959?

CVE-2019-9959 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 6.5, rated medium severity. It is exploitable over network with low attack complexity, requires no privileges and user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is none, integrity none, and availability high.

Is CVE-2019-9959 being actively exploited?

It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 2% (77th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

What products are affected by CVE-2019-9959?

CVE-2019-9959 primarily affects Freedesktop Poppler. In total, 17 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.

How do I fix CVE-2019-9959?

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

When was CVE-2019-9959 published?

CVE-2019-9959 was published on 2019-07-22 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

CVE-2019-9959

CVE-2019-9959 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Freedesktop Poppler with a CVSS 3.x base score of 6.5. 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-190.

Key facts

Severity: Medium (CVSS 3.x base score 6.5)
CVSS v2: 4.3
EPSS exploit prediction: 2% (77th percentile)
Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
Weakness: CWE-190
Affected product: Freedesktop Poppler
Published: 2019-07-22
Last modified: 2026-06-17

Description

The JPXStream::init function in Poppler 0.78.0 and earlier doesn't check for negative values of stream length, leading to an Integer Overflow, thereby making it possible to allocate a large memory chunk on the heap, with a size controlled by an attacker, as demonstrated by pdftocairo.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2019-9959?: The JPXStream::init function in Poppler 0.78.0 and earlier doesn't check for negative values of stream length, leading to an Integer Overflow, thereby making it possible to allocate a large memory chunk on the heap, with a size controlled by an attacker, as demonstrated by pdftocairo.
How severe is CVE-2019-9959?: CVE-2019-9959 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 6.5, rated medium severity. It is exploitable over network with low attack complexity, requires no privileges and user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is none, integrity none, and availability high.
Is CVE-2019-9959 being actively exploited?: It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 2% (77th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
What products are affected by CVE-2019-9959?: CVE-2019-9959 primarily affects Freedesktop Poppler. In total, 17 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.
How do I fix CVE-2019-9959?: Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround.
When was CVE-2019-9959 published?: CVE-2019-9959 was published on 2019-07-22 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

References

Affected products (17)

cpe:2.3:a:freedesktop:poppler:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:8.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:9.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:10.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:fedoraproject:fedora:29:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:fedoraproject:fedora:30:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux:8.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_eus:8.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_eus:8.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_eus:8.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_eus:8.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_aus:8.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_aus:8.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_aus:8.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_tus:8.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_tus:8.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_tus:8.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

More vulnerabilities in Freedesktop Poppler

CVE-2019-9631 — Critical (CVSS 9.8): Poppler 0.74.0 has a heap-based buffer over-read in the CairoRescaleBox.cc downsample_row_box_filter function.
CVE-2018-21009 — High (CVSS 8.8): Poppler before 0.66.0 has an integer overflow in Parser::makeStream in Parser.cc.
CVE-2019-12293 — High (CVSS 8.8): In Poppler through 0.76.1, there is a heap-based buffer over-read in JPXStream::init in JPEG2000Stream.cc via data with…
CVE-2019-10872 — High (CVSS 8.8): An issue was discovered in Poppler 0.74.0. There is a heap-based buffer over-read in the function…
CVE-2019-9545 — High (CVSS 8.8): An issue was discovered in Poppler 0.74.0. A recursive function call, in JBIG2Stream::readTextRegion() located in…
CVE-2019-9543 — High (CVSS 8.8): An issue was discovered in Poppler 0.74.0. A recursive function call, in JBIG2Stream::readGenericBitmap() located in…

All CVEs affecting Freedesktop Poppler →

Other CWE-190 (Integer Overflow or Wraparound) vulnerabilities

CVE-2026-4689 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): Sandbox escape due to incorrect boundary conditions, integer overflow in the XPCOM component. This vulnerability was…
CVE-2026-24814 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): Integer Overflow or Wraparound vulnerability in swoole swoole-src (thirdparty/hiredis modules). This vulnerability is…
CVE-2025-64721 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): Sandboxie is a sandbox-based isolation software for 32-bit and 64-bit Windows NT-based operating systems. In versions…
CVE-2015-5108 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): Integer overflow in Adobe Reader and Acrobat 10.x before 10.1.15 and 11.x before 11.0.12, Acrobat and Acrobat Reader DC…
CVE-2015-5097 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): Integer overflow in Adobe Reader and Acrobat 10.x before 10.1.15 and 11.x before 11.0.12, Acrobat and Acrobat Reader DC…
CVE-2013-2555 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): Integer overflow in Adobe Flash Player before 10.3.183.75 and 11.x before 11.7.700.169 on Windows and Mac OS X, before…

Browse all CWE-190 (Integer Overflow or Wraparound) vulnerabilities →