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CVE Record

CVE-2021-39540: An issue was discovered in pdftools through 20200714.

An issue was discovered in pdftools through 20200714. A stack-buffer-overflow exists in the function Analyze::AnalyzePages() located in analyze.cpp. It allows an attacker to cause code Execution.

UnknownCVSS not scoredNot KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysishigh

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

CVE-2021-39540 describes a stack buffer overflow in pdftools through 20200714. If a vulnerable instance processes malicious input, the reported impact is code execution. Public data is sparse, so urgency depends on whether your environment actually uses this tool, especially with untrusted PDFs.

Executive priority

Prioritize rapid inventory first. The reported impact is code execution, but public evidence is thin and affected product metadata is incomplete. If pdftools processes untrusted PDFs in production, treat this as a high-priority containment and vendor-guidance review item.

Technical view

The reported flaw is in Analyze::AnalyzePages() in analyze.cpp. The CVE description states a stack-buffer-overflow can lead to code execution. No CVSS, CWE, CPE, fixed version, or vendor advisory is included in the provided sources.

Likely exposure

Likely exposure is limited to environments running pdftools through 20200714, particularly document-processing workflows that handle untrusted or externally supplied PDFs. Product and package identifiers are incomplete in the sources.

Exploitation context

The source bundle does not show CISA KEV listing or active exploitation evidence. A public GitHub issue is referenced, but the provided data does not establish weaponized exploitation in the wild.

Researcher notes

The useful facts are narrow: pdftools through 20200714, stack buffer overflow, Analyze::AnalyzePages(), analyze.cpp, code execution impact. There is no sourced CVSS, CWE, CPE, patch version, or active exploitation signal in the provided bundle.

Mitigation direction

  • Inventory pdftools deployments and confirm versions at or before 20200714.
  • Check the upstream GitHub issue or repository for fixed releases or maintainer guidance.
  • Avoid processing untrusted PDFs with affected versions until guidance is confirmed.
  • Run affected PDF processing in sandboxed, least-privilege environments.
  • Monitor for unexpected crashes during PDF analysis workflows.

Validation and detection

  • Search hosts, containers, and build manifests for pdftools usage.
  • Confirm whether deployed source includes Analyze::AnalyzePages() in analyze.cpp.
  • Identify workflows where pdftools processes external or user-supplied PDFs.
  • Review crash logs for pdftools failures during PDF analysis.
  • Record version evidence because official CPE data is absent.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
3

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

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description · low confidence lookup

Execution 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.

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CVE-2021-39540 mapping review

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
Unknown
CVSS
Not scored
Known Exploited
No
Published
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.

0CVSS vectors
0Timeline events
0ADP providers
2Source links

CVSS and timeline data

No CVSS vectors or timeline events were available in the normalized CVE source material.

Source materials

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
n/an/an/aListed
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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