CVE-2003-0434: Various PDF viewers including (1) Adobe Acrobat 5.06 and (2) Xpdf 1.01 allow remote attackers to execute arbit

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HIGH 7.5WATCHLISTDOWNGRADEDOWNGRADEMITIGATE

CVE-2003-0434 is a high-severity flaw (CVSS 7.5) affecting acrobat, xpdf, mandrake linux. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

Various PDF viewers including (1) Adobe Acrobat 5.06 and (2) Xpdf 1.01 allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands via shell metacharacters in an embedded hyperlink.

Why this priority

High severity
EPSS top 1%: very likely to be exploited
Public exploit reference
On your watchlist

No fix is published yet: follow the downgrade or mitigation steps.

Risk facts

CVSS score	7.5 (High)
EPSS exploit chance	40.9% (top 1%)
CISA exploited list	No
Published	2003-07-24
Last modified	2026-06-16

Publisher (CNA): MITRE · Vendor: adobe · mandrakesoft · redhat · xpdf

Last updated 2026-06-16 · Sources: CVE Program, NVD, CISA KEV, EPSS and vendor advisories · How we score

Am I affected?

Timeline

2003-07-24 04:00 UTCPublished CVE record published
2026-06-16 22:02 UTCUpdated Record last modified

adobe acrobat DOWNGRADE

Affected: 5.0.6

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 5.0.6

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy acrobat || rpm -q acrobat || acrobat --version

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE to a release before 5.0.6 (Debian / Ubuntu)

apt-cache madison acrobat sudo apt install acrobat=<VERSION_BEFORE_5.0.6> sudo apt-mark hold acrobat

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

dnf --showduplicates list acrobat sudo dnf downgrade acrobat-<VERSION_BEFORE_5.0.6> sudo dnf versionlock add acrobat

Downgrade risk

Downgrading can break dependent software and may reopen older bugs. Read the distro advisory first and test on a non-production host.

After downgrade

Restart the service, and keep the package held until a fixed release ships.

xpdf xpdf DOWNGRADE

Affected: 1.1

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 1.1

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy xpdf || rpm -q xpdf || xpdf --version

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE to a release before 1.1 (Debian / Ubuntu)

apt-cache madison xpdf sudo apt install xpdf=<VERSION_BEFORE_1.1> sudo apt-mark hold xpdf

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

dnf --showduplicates list xpdf sudo dnf downgrade xpdf-<VERSION_BEFORE_1.1> sudo dnf versionlock add xpdf

Downgrade risk

Downgrading can break dependent software and may reopen older bugs. Read the distro advisory first and test on a non-production host.

After downgrade

Restart the service, and keep the package held until a fixed release ships.

mandrakesoft mandrake linux MITIGATE

Affected: 9.0 · 9.1

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 9.0

Check your OS release

cat /etc/os-release; uname -r

Debian / Ubuntu

sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade

RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora

sudo dnf upgrade --refresh

Windows

Install the latest cumulative update from Windows Update

If no patch exists yet

OS downgrades are not safe. Apply the vendor mitigation from the advisory and restrict exposure.

mandrakesoft mandrake linux corporate server MITIGATE

Affected: 2.1

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 2.1

Check your OS release

cat /etc/os-release; uname -r

Debian / Ubuntu

sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade

RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora

sudo dnf upgrade --refresh

Windows

Install the latest cumulative update from Windows Update

If no patch exists yet

OS downgrades are not safe. Apply the vendor mitigation from the advisory and restrict exposure.

redhat enterprise linux MITIGATE

Affected: 2.1

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 2.1

Check your OS release

cat /etc/os-release; uname -r

Debian / Ubuntu

sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade

RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora

sudo dnf upgrade --refresh

Windows

Install the latest cumulative update from Windows Update

If no patch exists yet

OS downgrades are not safe. Apply the vendor mitigation from the advisory and restrict exposure.

redhat linux MITIGATE

Affected: 7.1 · 7.2 · 7.3 · 8.0 · 9.0

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 7.1

Check your OS release

cat /etc/os-release; uname -r

Debian / Ubuntu

sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade

RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora

sudo dnf upgrade --refresh

Windows

Install the latest cumulative update from Windows Update

If no patch exists yet

OS downgrades are not safe. Apply the vendor mitigation from the advisory and restrict exposure.

Public exploits and detection

Public code exists for this CVE. Treat unpatched systems as at risk, and only run PoCs in a lab.

Exploit-DB: Adobe Acrobat Reader (UNIX) 5.0 6 / Xpdf 0.9x Hyperlinks - Arbitrary Command Execution

Verify at the official source NVD · CVE Program · Report a problem with this page
Scores and fixes here are computed automatically from those and other public sources. Confirm with the vendor advisory before changing production systems.

Quick answers

How do I fix CVE-2003-0434?

acrobat: downgrade or apply the listed mitigation; xpdf: downgrade or apply the listed mitigation; mandrake linux: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Is CVE-2003-0434 being exploited?

CVE-2003-0434 is not on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list at the time of the last update. Check again, as this can change.

What does CVE-2003-0434 affect?

CVE-2003-0434 affects acrobat, xpdf, mandrake linux. Severity is high (CVSS 7.5). Various PDF viewers including (1) Adobe Acrobat 5.06 and (2) Xpdf 1.01 allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands via shell metacharacters in an embedded hyperlink.

How urgent is CVE-2003-0434?

Priority 61/100. High severity; EPSS top 1%: very likely to be exploited; Public exploit reference; On your watchlist

Software pages

Adobe Acrobat vulnerabilities

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References

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