CVE-2021-27807 : Vulnerability Insights and Analysis

A carefully crafted PDF file can trigger an infinite loop while loading the file in Apache PDFBox version 2.0.22 and prior 2.0.x versions.

Understanding CVE-2021-27807

This article discusses the impact, technical details, and mitigation strategies for CVE-2021-27807 affecting Apache PDFBox.

What is CVE-2021-27807?

CVE-2021-27807 is a vulnerability in Apache PDFBox that allows a maliciously created PDF file to cause an infinite loop during file loading.

The Impact of CVE-2021-27807

The vulnerability can be exploited by an attacker to trigger denial of service (DoS) conditions by causing the application to consume excessive computational resources.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-27807

The following technical information is relevant to understanding the CVE-2021-27807 vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

A carefully constructed PDF document causes an infinite loop during file loading, leading to resource exhaustion and potential DoS attacks.

Affected Systems and Versions

Apache PDFBox versions up to and including 2.0.22 are impacted by this vulnerability.

Exploitation Mechanism

By enticing a user to open a malicious PDF file using the affected software, an attacker can trigger the infinite loop, leading to service disruption.

Mitigation and Prevention

Proper mitigation measures can help prevent exploitation of the CVE-2021-27807 vulnerability.

Immediate Steps to Take

Users should update Apache PDFBox to version 2.0.23 or later to eliminate the vulnerability and protect against potential attacks.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly updating software, implementing secure coding practices, and conducting thorough security testing can enhance resilience against similar vulnerabilities.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security advisories and promptly apply patches released by Apache PDFBox to address known vulnerabilities.