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TI-2018-14518 Aliases CVE-2018-20481GHSA-hw98-2857-jggj

XRef::getEntry in XRef.cc in Poppler 0.72.0 mishandles unallocated XRef entries, which…

Priority LOW 35CWE-476Published · Updated

Key facts

Attack vector
Network
Privileges required
None
User interaction
Required
Attack complexity
Low
Impact type
Denial of service
Confidentiality · integrity · availability
None · None · High
Fix status
Partial Red Hat: 10 fixed, 2 without a fix

Attack profile from CVSS 3.0 · NVD. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat. Impact type from CWE-476.

Summary

XRef::getEntry in XRef.cc in Poppler 0.72.0 mishandles unallocated XRef entries, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (NULL pointer dereference) via a crafted PDF document, when XRefEntry::setFlag in XRef.h is called from Parser::makeStream in Parser.cc.

Why it matters now

EPSS 0.03288 88th percentileScored 2026-11-07
Public exploit Yes 1 exploit referenceTagged by NVD
Fix Partial Red Hat: 2 advisoriesRed Hat: 10 fixed, 2 without a fix

SSVC decision points

Not available: CISA has not published SSVC decision points for this record.

Affected products

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed inStatusSource
——all versions—No fix listedCNA
  • — Vendor— Affected all versions Fixed in — No fix listed CNA

CPE configurations NVD · 6

CPEVersionsRoleVendor
cpe:2.3:a:freedesktop:poppler:0.72.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*0.72.0VulnerableFreedesktop
cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:14.04:*:*:*:lts:*:*:*14.04VulnerableCanonical
cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:16.04:*:*:*:lts:*:*:*16.04VulnerableCanonical
cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:18.04:*:*:*:lts:*:*:*18.04VulnerableCanonical
cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:18.10:*:*:*:*:*:*:*18.10VulnerableCanonical
cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:8.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*8.0VulnerableDebian
  • cpe:2.3:a:freedesktop:poppler:0.72.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 0.72.0 Vulnerable ·Freedesktop
  • cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:14.04:*:*:*:lts:*:*:* Versions 14.04 Vulnerable ·Canonical
  • cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:16.04:*:*:*:lts:*:*:* Versions 16.04 Vulnerable ·Canonical
  • cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:18.04:*:*:*:lts:*:*:* Versions 18.04 Vulnerable ·Canonical
  • cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:18.10:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 18.10 Vulnerable ·Canonical
  • cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:8.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 8.0 Vulnerable ·Debian

Remediation

Red Hat 2 advisories

  • RHSA-2019:2713 Released 2019-09-12 · Red Hat rating Moderate
    poppler security update
    • Red Hat CodeReady Linux Builder (v. 8) poppler-cpp-0.66.0-11.el8_0.12, poppler-cpp-devel-0.66.0-11.el8_0.12, poppler-devel-0.66.0-11.el8_0.12 +3
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 8) poppler-0.66.0-11.el8_0.12, poppler-glib-0.66.0-11.el8_0.12, poppler-utils-0.66.0-11.el8_0.12
  • RHSA-2019:2022 Released 2019-08-06 · Red Hat rating Moderate
    poppler security, bug fix, and enhancement update
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Client (v. 7) evince-3.28.2-8.el7, evince-dvi-3.28.2-8.el7, evince-libs-3.28.2-8.el7 +8
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Client Optional (v. 7) evince-browser-plugin-3.28.2-8.el7, evince-devel-3.28.2-8.el7, okular-devel-4.10.5-7.el7 +6
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux ComputeNode (v. 7) poppler-0.26.5-38.el7, poppler-qt-0.26.5-38.el7, poppler-utils-0.26.5-38.el7
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux ComputeNode Optional (v. 7) poppler-cpp-0.26.5-38.el7, poppler-cpp-devel-0.26.5-38.el7, poppler-demos-0.26.5-38.el7 +4
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server (v. 7) evince-3.28.2-8.el7, evince-dvi-3.28.2-8.el7, evince-libs-3.28.2-8.el7 +12
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server Optional (v. 7) evince-browser-plugin-3.28.2-8.el7, evince-devel-3.28.2-8.el7, evince-devel-3.28.2-8.el7.ppc +13
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation (v. 7) evince-3.28.2-8.el7, evince-dvi-3.28.2-8.el7, evince-libs-3.28.2-8.el7 +9
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation Optional (v. 7) evince-browser-plugin-3.28.2-8.el7, evince-devel-3.28.2-8.el7, poppler-cpp-0.26.5-38.el7 +5

Vendor assessments

Red Hat

Red Hat rating: Low. Red Hat's page for this CVE →

ProductStatusPlan or fix
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5AffectedNo fix planned: Will not fix
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6AffectedNo fix planned: Will not fix
Red Hat CodeReady Linux Builder (v. 8)Fixed RHSA-2019:2713
Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 8)Fixed RHSA-2019:2713
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Client (v. 7)Fixed RHSA-2019:2022
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Client Optional (v. 7)Fixed RHSA-2019:2022
Red Hat Enterprise Linux ComputeNode (v. 7)Fixed RHSA-2019:2022
Red Hat Enterprise Linux ComputeNode Optional (v. 7)Fixed RHSA-2019:2022
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server (v. 7)Fixed RHSA-2019:2022
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server Optional (v. 7)Fixed RHSA-2019:2022
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation (v. 7)Fixed RHSA-2019:2022
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation Optional (v. 7)Fixed RHSA-2019:2022

Timeline

  1. 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2018-20481
  2. 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-hw98-2857-jggj

References

Exploit 1

Patch 1

Advisory 4

Other 1

Sources

This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences