How severe is CVE-2023-40472?

CVE-2023-40472 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 7.8, rated high severity. It is exploitable over local access with low attack complexity, requires no privileges and user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is high, integrity high, and availability high.

Is CVE-2023-40472 being actively exploited?

It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 0% (26th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

What products are affected by CVE-2023-40472?

CVE-2023-40472 primarily affects Pdf-xchange Pdf-tools. In total, 2 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.

How do I fix CVE-2023-40472?

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

Does CVE-2023-40472 have an EU (EUVD) identifier?

Yes. CVE-2023-40472 is tracked in the ENISA EU Vulnerability Database (EUVD) as EUVD-2023-45043.

When was CVE-2023-40472 published?

CVE-2023-40472 was published on 2024-05-03 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

CVE-2023-40472

CVE-2023-40472 is a high-severity vulnerability in Pdf-xchange Pdf-tools with a CVSS 3.x base score of 7.8. 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-822.

Key facts

Severity: High (CVSS 3.x base score 7.8)
EPSS exploit prediction: 0% (26th percentile)
Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
EU (EUVD) id: EUVD-2023-45043
Weakness: CWE-822
Affected product: Pdf-xchange Pdf-tools
Published: 2024-05-03
Last modified: 2026-06-17

Description

PDF-XChange Editor JavaScript String Untrusted Pointer Dereference Remote Code Execution Vulnerability. This vulnerability allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected installations of PDF-XChange Editor. User interaction is required to exploit this vulnerability in that the target must visit a malicious page or open a malicious file. The specific flaw exists within the handling of strings. The issue results from the lack of proper validation of a user-supplied value prior to dereferencing it as a pointer. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to execute code in the context of the current process. Was ZDI-CAN-20730.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2023-40472?: PDF-XChange Editor JavaScript String Untrusted Pointer Dereference Remote Code Execution Vulnerability. This vulnerability allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected installations of PDF-XChange Editor. User interaction is required to exploit this vulnerability in that the target must visit a malicious page or open a malicious file. The specific flaw exists within the handling of strings. The issue results from the lack of proper validation of a user-supplied value prior to dereferencing it as a pointer. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to execute code in the context of the current process. Was ZDI-CAN-20730.
How severe is CVE-2023-40472?: CVE-2023-40472 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 7.8, rated high severity. It is exploitable over local access with low attack complexity, requires no privileges and user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is high, integrity high, and availability high.
Is CVE-2023-40472 being actively exploited?: It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 0% (26th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
What products are affected by CVE-2023-40472?: CVE-2023-40472 primarily affects Pdf-xchange Pdf-tools. In total, 2 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.
How do I fix CVE-2023-40472?: Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround. Given its high severity, prioritise patching exposed systems.
Does CVE-2023-40472 have an EU (EUVD) identifier?: Yes. CVE-2023-40472 is tracked in the ENISA EU Vulnerability Database (EUVD) as EUVD-2023-45043.
When was CVE-2023-40472 published?: CVE-2023-40472 was published on 2024-05-03 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

References

https://www.zerodayinitiative.com/advisories/ZDI-23-1149/

Affected products (2)

cpe:2.3:a:pdf-xchange:pdf-tools:9.5.368.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:pdf-xchange:pdf-xchange_editor:9.5.368.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

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