Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
This is a legacy Windows browser risk in Synactis PDF In-The-Box ActiveX. If the vulnerable control is installed, a user who opens a malicious webpage could have code run under their account. The source bundle names public exploit references, but does not show confirmed active exploitation.
Executive priority
Treat as high priority for legacy Windows environments. The business risk is user-assisted remote code execution through an installed ActiveX control, with public exploit references available. Priority drops materially if the control is absent and ActiveX-capable browsing is not used.
Technical view
The ConnectToSynactis method in PDF_IN_1.ocx has a stack-based buffer overflow. A long string reaches a strcpy operation and corrupts a saved TRegistry class pointer before a WinExec-related path. The CVSS 4.0 score is 7.5 with network attack vector, low complexity, no privileges, and active user interaction required.
Likely exposure
Exposure is most likely on legacy Windows endpoints with the Synactis PDF In-The-Box ActiveX control installed or bundled through third-party software such as Logic Print 2013. Modern browsers and systems without the registered ActiveX control are unlikely to be directly exposed.
Exploitation context
The bundle includes Metasploit and Exploit-DB references, so proof-of-concept or exploit material is public. However, KEV is false and the provided sources do not claim active exploitation in the wild. Exploitation requires enticing a user to visit a malicious webpage that instantiates the control.
Researcher notes
Version evidence is incomplete: the bundle names Synactis PDF In-The-Box and PDF_IN_1.ocx but does not provide a precise fixed version or vendor patch statement. Validate exposure by installed component and registration status rather than product inventory alone.
Mitigation direction
- Inventory Windows endpoints for Synactis PDF In-The-Box and PDF_IN_1.ocx.
- Check Synactis and software vendor guidance for supported fixes or replacement versions.
- Remove or disable the vulnerable ActiveX control where business use is not required.
- Review third-party applications that may bundle the control, including Logic Print 2013.
- Restrict legacy ActiveX-capable browser use for untrusted websites.
Validation and detection
- Confirm whether PDF_IN_1.ocx is installed or registered on Windows endpoints.
- Identify applications that deploy Synactis PDF In-The-Box components.
- Check browser and endpoint policy exposure to ActiveX controls.
- Review proxy, EDR, and IPS telemetry for detections tied to this vulnerability.
- Prioritize systems used by users with access to sensitive data.
Public sources used
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context
These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.
ATT&CK lookup starting points
Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.
CWE-121: Exact CWE lookup
Use the exact CWE identifier as the starting point before reviewing related ATT&CK behavior. Open the exact CWE lookup page first, then review the ATT&CK searches from that MITRE weakness context. This is a Glexia lookup hint, not an official ATT&CK mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCWE-94: Code execution behavior lookup
Code execution and unsafe deserialization weaknesses often justify reviewing execution behavior and process telemetry. Open the exact CWE lookup page first, then review the ATT&CK searches from that MITRE weakness context. This is a Glexia lookup hint, not an official ATT&CK mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupExecution behavior lookup
The CVE wording references code or command execution, so execution technique review may help defensive triage. This is a Glexia inferred lookup path, not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, or CVE Program mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2013-10057 mapping review
Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.
Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- High
- CVSS
- 7.5 (4.0)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:P/PR:N/UI:A/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N
CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5
These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.
CVSS vector scores
1 official scoreWe collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:P/PR:N/UI:A/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N——Primary CVE scoreVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 4.0 score
7.5HighVector: CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:P/PR:N/UI:A/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/rapid7/metasploit-framework/master/modules/exploits/windows/browser/synactis_connecttosynactis_bof.rbCVE reference · exploit
- https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/25835CVE reference · exploit
- https://www.fortiguard.com/encyclopedia/ips/35840/synactis-pdf-in-the-box-connecttosynactic-buffer-overflowCVE reference · third-party-advisory
- https://www.synactis.com/pdf-in-the-box.htmCVE reference · product
- https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/synactis-pdf-in-the-box-connectosynactic-stack-based-buffer-overflowCVE reference · third-party-advisory
Products and packages named in the record
CWE details
CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.