CVE-2019-25549 in PCL Converter
Summary
by MITRE • 03/21/2026
VeryPDF PCL Converter 2.7 contains a denial of service vulnerability that allows local attackers to crash the application by supplying an excessively long password string. Attackers can trigger a buffer overflow by entering a 3000-byte password in the PDF Security encryption fields, causing the application to crash when processing PCL files.
Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/21/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-25549 affects VeryPDF PCL Converter version 2.7, a document conversion tool that processes PCL files for printing and display purposes. This particular flaw represents a classic buffer overflow condition that manifests when the application encounters malformed input during the PDF security encryption process. The vulnerability specifically targets the password handling mechanism within the software's security framework, where insufficient input validation allows malicious actors to exploit memory boundaries through carefully crafted inputs.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate bounds checking within the password processing code. When users attempt to convert PCL files that require password protection, the application fails to properly validate the length of password strings entered in the PDF Security encryption fields. This weakness enables attackers to supply a 3000-byte password string that exceeds the allocated buffer space, resulting in memory corruption and subsequent application termination. The flaw operates at the application layer where input validation mechanisms are insufficient to prevent buffer overflow conditions, making it particularly dangerous for local attackers who can directly interact with the software interface.
The operational impact of this denial of service vulnerability extends beyond simple application crashes to potentially disrupt legitimate business operations. Local attackers with access to the system can repeatedly trigger the vulnerability to cause persistent service interruptions, affecting productivity and potentially compromising workflow continuity. The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal technical expertise and can be accomplished through simple input manipulation, making it particularly attractive to threat actors seeking to disrupt operations without requiring advanced privileges or complex attack vectors. This characteristic aligns with attack patterns documented in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the privilege escalation and defense evasion domains.
From a security standards perspective, this vulnerability maps directly to CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and CWE-122, which addresses heap-based buffer overflow scenarios. The flaw demonstrates poor input validation practices that violate fundamental secure coding principles and represents a failure in the application's memory management protocols. Organizations utilizing VeryPDF PCL Converter should consider implementing immediate mitigations including input length restrictions, enhanced validation routines, and application sandboxing measures to prevent exploitation. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of regular security assessments and patch management processes, particularly for commercial software packages that may not receive timely security updates from vendors.
Mitigation strategies should include immediate deployment of vendor-provided patches if available, implementation of input length restrictions to prevent excessive password strings, and network segmentation to limit local access to the vulnerable application. System administrators should monitor for exploitation attempts and implement logging mechanisms to detect potential abuse of this vulnerability. The incident underscores the critical need for comprehensive application security testing, including boundary condition analysis and input validation reviews, to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities before they can be exploited by malicious actors. Organizations should also consider alternative document conversion tools that demonstrate stronger security practices and more robust input handling mechanisms.