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CVE Record

CVE-2019-1786: Clam AntiVirus PDF Out-of-Bounds Read Vulnerability

A vulnerability in the Portable Document Format (PDF) scanning functionality of Clam AntiVirus (ClamAV) Software versions 0.101.1 and 0.101.0 could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to cause a denial of service (DoS) condition on an affected device. The vulnerability is due to a lack of proper data handling mechanisms within the device buffer while indexing remaining file data on an affected device. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by sending crafted PDF files to an affected device. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to cause an out-of-bounds read condition, resulting in a crash that could result in a denial of service condition on an affected device.

HighCVSS 7.5Not KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysishigh

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

ClamAV 0.101.0 and 0.101.1 can crash when scanning a maliciously crafted PDF. For organizations using ClamAV in mail gateways, upload pipelines, or file-scanning services, the main risk is interruption of scanning or dependent workflows, not data theft or code execution based on the supplied sources.

Executive priority

Treat this as a high-priority availability fix where ClamAV handles untrusted PDFs in business-critical paths. It is less urgent for isolated or non-PDF scanning use, and the bundle does not support claims of active exploitation.

Technical view

The PDF scanning functionality has improper data handling while indexing remaining file data in a device buffer. A crafted PDF can trigger an out-of-bounds read, causing a crash and denial of service. The CVSS 3.0 score is 7.5 with network attack vector, low complexity, no privileges, and no user interaction.

Likely exposure

Exposure is limited to ClamAV deployments running versions 0.101.0 or 0.101.1 that process untrusted PDFs. Common placements include email filtering, web upload scanning, file ingestion services, and antivirus scanning jobs.

Exploitation context

The sources describe remote unauthenticated denial of service through crafted PDF files. CISA KEV status is false in the bundle, and no supplied source states active exploitation. Evidence supports crash-based availability impact only.

Researcher notes

The record maps to CWE-20 and describes an out-of-bounds read in PDF parsing. The public bundle names affected versions but does not provide exploit details or a specific fixed version. Use vendor and distribution advisories to confirm remediation state.

Mitigation direction

  • Identify ClamAV deployments running 0.101.0 or 0.101.1.
  • Check ClamAV, Cisco, and distribution advisories for the vendor-supported fixed package.
  • Upgrade affected deployments according to vendor or distribution guidance.
  • Monitor scanning services for crashes or repeated restarts during PDF processing.
  • Prioritize externally supplied PDF scanning paths first.

Validation and detection

  • Confirm ClamAV versions are not 0.101.0 or 0.101.1.
  • Verify package status against the relevant vendor or distribution advisory.
  • Review scanner logs for crashes tied to PDF processing.
  • Confirm mail, upload, and file-ingestion workflows continue scanning after remediation.
  • Check monitoring alerts for ClamAV service restarts or availability loss.
Prepared
Confidence
high
Sources
5

Public sources used

Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.

Potential ATT&CK relevance

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 · low confidence lookup

CWE-20: Exact CWE lookup

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cve · low confidence lookup

CVE-2019-1786 mapping review

Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
High
CVSS
7.5 (3.0)
Known Exploited
No
Published

Vector: CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

Official CVE source material

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.

1CVSS vectors
0Timeline events
0ADP providers
4Source links

CVSS vector scores

1 official score

We 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.

ScoreVersionSeverityVectorExploitImpactSource
7.5CVSS 3.0HighCVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H3.93.6Primary CVE score

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.0 score

7.5High
CVSS 3.0 vector shape for CVE-2019-1786Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

Vector: CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

Attack Vector
NetworkAdjacentLocalPhysical
Attack Complexity
LowHigh
Privileges Required
NoneLowHigh
User Interaction
NoneRequired
Scope
ChangedUnchanged
Confidentiality Impact
HighLowNone
Integrity Impact
HighLowNone
Availability Impact
HighLowNone

Source materials

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
CiscoClamAV0.101.1, 0.101.0Listed
Weakness

CWE details

CWE-20

CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.