CVE-2024-24259 in MuPDF
Summary
by MITRE • 02/05/2024
mupdf v1.23.9 was discovered to contain a memory leak via the menuEntry variable in the glutAddMenuEntry function.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/10/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-24259 affects the MuPDF library version 1.23.9 and represents a memory leak condition within the glutAddMenuEntry function. This flaw manifests through improper memory management of the menuEntry variable, creating a persistent resource consumption issue that can degrade system performance over time. The vulnerability resides in the graphical user interface components of MuPDF, which is widely used for PDF rendering and document processing across various applications and platforms. When the glutAddMenuEntry function is invoked repeatedly or in high-frequency scenarios, the memory allocated for menuEntry variables fails to be properly released, leading to progressive memory consumption that can eventually exhaust available system resources.
This memory leak vulnerability falls under the broader category of memory management errors and can be classified according to CWE-401 as "Improper Release of Memory Before Removing Last Reference." The issue specifically impacts the OpenGL utility toolkit integration within MuPDF, where menu entries are dynamically created and managed through the glutAddMenuEntry API call. The flaw demonstrates a failure in implementing proper garbage collection or reference counting mechanisms for GUI menu elements, creating a persistent resource leak that accumulates over time. Attackers could potentially exploit this vulnerability to cause denial of service conditions by triggering repeated menu entry creation without corresponding cleanup operations, leading to system instability and resource exhaustion.
The operational impact of CVE-2024-24259 extends beyond simple memory consumption issues, as it can affect the stability and reliability of applications that depend on MuPDF for document rendering. Systems running applications that utilize MuPDF with OpenGL menu functionality may experience gradual performance degradation, increased memory usage, and potential application crashes. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in long-running applications or server environments where continuous document processing occurs, as the memory leak compounds over time and can lead to system resource exhaustion. Additionally, the issue may manifest differently across various operating systems and hardware configurations, making it challenging to predict and mitigate consistently.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should prioritize immediate patching of affected MuPDF installations to version 1.23.10 or later, which contains the necessary memory management fixes. System administrators should implement monitoring solutions to track memory consumption patterns in applications utilizing MuPDF, enabling early detection of potential memory leak impacts. The remediation approach should include code-level fixes that ensure proper cleanup of menuEntry variables through explicit memory deallocation or implementation of smart pointer mechanisms. Organizations should also consider implementing application-level resource monitoring and automated restart procedures for critical services that may be affected by memory exhaustion. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability aligns with techniques related to resource exhaustion and denial of service, potentially enabling adversaries to exploit the memory leak for persistent system degradation. The fix should incorporate proper memory management practices including reference counting, automatic garbage collection, or explicit deallocation routines to prevent similar issues from recurring in future versions of the library.