Poppler up to 0.21.3 Escape Sequence Error.cc error escape output

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.
6.7$0-$5k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability labeled as critical has been found in Poppler up to 0.21.3. Affected is the function Error of the file Error.cc of the component Escape Sequence Handler. The manipulation results in escape output. This vulnerability is known as CVE-2012-2142. It is possible to launch the attack remotely. Furthermore, an exploit is available. The affected component should be upgraded.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability classified as critical has been found in Poppler up to 0.21.3 (Document Reader Software). Affected is the function error of the file Error.cc of the component Escape Sequence Handler. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a escape output vulnerability. CWE is classifying the issue as CWE-116. The product prepares a structured message for communication with another component, but encoding or escaping of the data is either missing or done incorrectly. As a result, the intended structure of the message is not preserved. This is going to have an impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. CVE summarizes:

The error function in Error.cc in poppler before 0.21.4 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands via a PDF containing an escape sequence for a terminal emulator.

The weakness was published 04/22/2023. The advisory is shared for download at cgit.freedesktop.org. This vulnerability is traded as CVE-2012-2142 since 04/04/2012. It is possible to launch the attack remotely. The exploitation doesn't require any form of authentication. Successful exploitation requires user interaction by the victim. Technical details and a public exploit are known.

The exploit is shared for download at cgit.freedesktop.org. It is declared as proof-of-concept. The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 80824 (Oracle Solaris Third-Party Patch Update : xpdf (cve_2012_2142_arbitrary_code)), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment. It is assigned to the family Solaris Local Security Checks. The commercial vulnerability scanner Qualys is able to test this issue with plugin 123074 (Solaris 11.2 Support Repository Update (SRU) 4.6.0 Missing).

Upgrading to version 0.21.4 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying a patch is able to eliminate this problem. The bugfix is ready for download at cgit.freedesktop.org. The best possible mitigation is suggested to be upgrading to the latest version.

The vulnerability is also documented in the vulnerability database at Tenable (80824). VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.

Productinfo

Type

Name

Version

License

CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 7.0
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 6.7

VulDB Base Score: 6.3
VulDB Temp Score: 5.7
VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

NVD Base Score: 7.8
NVD Vector: 🔍

CVSSv2info

AVACAuCIA
💳💳💳💳💳💳
💳💳💳💳💳💳
💳💳💳💳💳💳
VectorComplexityAuthenticationConfidentialityIntegrityAvailability
UnlockUnlockUnlockUnlockUnlockUnlock
UnlockUnlockUnlockUnlockUnlockUnlock
UnlockUnlockUnlockUnlockUnlockUnlock

VulDB Base Score: 🔍
VulDB Temp Score: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

NVD Base Score: 🔍

Exploitinginfo

Class: Escape output
CWE: CWE-116 / CWE-74 / CWE-707
CAPEC: 🔍
ATT&CK: 🔍

Physical: Partially
Local: Yes
Remote: Yes

Availability: 🔍
Access: Public
Status: Proof-of-Concept
Download: 🔍

EPSS Score: 🔍
EPSS Percentile: 🔍

Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔍

0-DayUnlockUnlockUnlockUnlock
TodayUnlockUnlockUnlockUnlock

Nessus ID: 80824
Nessus Name: Oracle Solaris Third-Party Patch Update : xpdf (cve_2012_2142_arbitrary_code)
Nessus Family: 🔍

Qualys ID: 🔍
Qualys Name: 🔍

Threat Intelligenceinfo

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

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔍

Upgrade: Poppler 0.21.4
Patch: cgit.freedesktop.org

Timelineinfo

04/04/2012 🔍
01/19/2015 +1020 days 🔍
04/22/2023 +3014 days 🔍
04/22/2023 +0 days 🔍
04/27/2025 +736 days 🔍

Sourcesinfo

Advisory: cgit.freedesktop.org
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2012-2142 (🔍)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2012-2142
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-227160
scip Labs: https://www.scip.ch/en/?labs.20161013

Entryinfo

Created: 04/22/2023 08:59
Updated: 04/27/2025 04:11
Changes: 04/22/2023 08:59 (61), 06/09/2024 18:40 (18), 12/16/2024 08:16 (3), 04/27/2025 04:11 (3)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.

Discussion

No comments yet. Languages: en.

Please log in to comment.

◂ PreviousOverviewNext ▸

Do you want to use VulDB in your project?

Use the official API to access entries easily!