VDB-209786 · CVE-2022-38222 · Nessus 242703

Xpdf 4.04 PDF File JBIG2Stream.cc JBIG2Stream::close use after free

CVSS Meta Temp Score CVSS is a standardized scoring system to determine possibilities of attacks. The Temp Score considers temporal factors like disclosure, exploit and countermeasures. The unique Meta Score calculates the average score of different sources to provide a normalized scoring system.	Current Exploit Price (≈) Our analysts are monitoring exploit markets and are in contact with vulnerability brokers. The range indicates the observed or calculated exploit price to be seen on exploit markets. A good indicator to understand the monetary effort required for and the popularity of an attack.	CTI Interest Score Our Cyber Threat Intelligence team is monitoring different web sites, mailing lists, exploit markets and social media networks. The CTI Interest Score identifies the interest of attackers and the security community for this specific vulnerability in real-time. A high score indicates an elevated risk to be targeted for this vulnerability.
6.0	$0-$5k	0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability labeled as problematic has been found in Xpdf 4.04. Impacted is the function JBIG2Stream::close of the file JBIG2Stream.cc of the component PDF File Handler. Such manipulation leads to use after free. This vulnerability is documented as CVE-2022-38222. The attack can be executed remotely. There is not any exploit available.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Xpdf 4.04 (Document Reader Software) and classified as problematic. Affected by this issue is the function JBIG2Stream::close of the file JBIG2Stream.cc of the component PDF File Handler. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a use after free vulnerability. Using CWE to declare the problem leads to CWE-416. Referencing memory after it has been freed can cause a program to crash, use unexpected values, or execute code. Impacted is availability. CVE summarizes:

There is a use-after-free issue in JBIG2Stream::close() located in JBIG2Stream.cc in Xpdf 4.04. It can be triggered by sending a crafted PDF file to (for example) the pdfimages binary. It allows an attacker to cause Denial of Service or possibly have unspecified other impact.

The weakness was released 09/29/2022. The advisory is available at forum.xpdfreader.com. This vulnerability is handled as CVE-2022-38222 since 08/15/2022. Successful exploitation requires user interaction by the victim. Technical details are known, but there is no available exploit.

The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 242703 (NewStart CGSL MAIN 7.02 : xpdf Multiple Vulnerabilities (NS-SA-2025-0121)), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment.

There is no information about possible countermeasures known. It may be suggested to replace the affected object with an alternative product.

The vulnerability is also documented in the vulnerability database at Tenable (242703). If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.

Productinfo

Type

Document Reader Software

Name

Xpdf

Version

4.04

License

open-source

CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 6.0
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 6.0

VulDB Base Score: 4.3
VulDB Temp Score: 4.3
VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

NVD Base Score: 7.8
NVD Vector: 🔍

CVSSv2info

AV	AC	Au	C	I	A
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💳	💳	💳	💳	💳	💳
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Vector	Complexity	Authentication	Confidentiality	Integrity	Availability
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VulDB Base Score: 🔍
VulDB Temp Score: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

Exploitinginfo

Class: Use after free
CWE: CWE-416 / CWE-119
CAPEC: 🔍
ATT&CK: 🔍

Physical: Partially
Local: Yes
Remote: Yes

Availability: 🔍
Status: Not defined

EPSS Score: 🔍
EPSS Percentile: 🔍

Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔍

0-Day	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock
Today	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock

Nessus ID: 242703
Nessus Name: NewStart CGSL MAIN 7.02 : xpdf Multiple Vulnerabilities (NS-SA-2025-0121)

Threat Intelligenceinfo

Interest: 🔍
Active Actors: 🔍
Active APT Groups: 🔍

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: no mitigation known
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔍

Timelineinfo

08/15/2022 🔍
09/29/2022 +45 days 🔍
09/29/2022 +0 days 🔍
07/26/2025 +1031 days 🔍

Sourcesinfo

Advisory: forum.xpdfreader.com
Status: Not defined

CVE: CVE-2022-38222 (🔍)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2022-38222
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-209786

Entryinfo

Created: 09/29/2022 10:05
Updated: 07/26/2025 16:52
Changes: 09/29/2022 10:05 (40), 10/25/2022 11:20 (11), 07/26/2025 16:52 (16)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.