CVE-2021-40226: xpdfreader 4.03 is vulnerable to Buffer Overflow.

This month

HIGH 7.5REMOTEDOWNGRADE

CVE-2021-40226 is a high-severity flaw (CVSS 7.5) affecting xpdfreader. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

xpdfreader 4.03 is vulnerable to Buffer Overflow.

Why this priority

High severity
Remotely exploitable, no login, no user action

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

Risk facts

CVSS score	7.5 (High)
Attack vector	Network (remote)
Attack complexity	Low
Privileges needed	None
User interaction	None
EPSS exploit chance	0.8% (top 45%)
CISA exploited list	No
Weakness	CWE-787
Published	2022-11-10
Last modified	2026-06-17

Publisher (CNA): MITRE · Vendor: glyphandcog

Last updated 2026-06-17 · Sources: CVE Program, NVD, CISA KEV, EPSS and vendor advisories · How we score

Am I affected?

Timeline

2022-11-10 18:15 UTCPublished CVE record published
2026-06-17 04:06 UTCUpdated Record last modified

glyphandcog xpdfreader DOWNGRADE

Affected: 4.03

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 4.03

1. Check installed version

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

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE to a release before 4.03 (Debian / Ubuntu)

apt-cache madison xpdfreader sudo apt install xpdfreader=<VERSION_BEFORE_4.03> sudo apt-mark hold xpdfreader

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

dnf --showduplicates list xpdfreader sudo dnf downgrade xpdfreader-<VERSION_BEFORE_4.03> sudo dnf versionlock add xpdfreader

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.

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-2021-40226?

xpdfreader: downgrade or apply the listed mitigation. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Is CVE-2021-40226 being exploited?

CVE-2021-40226 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-2021-40226 affect?

CVE-2021-40226 affects xpdfreader. Severity is high (CVSS 7.5). xpdfreader 4.03 is vulnerable to Buffer Overflow.

How urgent is CVE-2021-40226?

Priority 45/100. High severity; Remotely exploitable, no login, no user action

Related CVEs

CVE-2022-24107 HIGH 7.8 UPGRADE Xpdf prior to 4.04 lacked an integer overflow check in JPXStream.cc.
CVE-2022-24106 HIGH 7.8 UPGRADE In Xpdf prior to 4.04, the DCT (JPEG) decoder was incorrectly allowing the 'interleaved' flag to be changed af

References

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