CVE-2012-2142

The error function in Error.cc in poppler before 0.21.4 allows remote attackers to execute...

7.8 HighFix available

The error function in Error.cc in poppler before 0.21.4 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands via a PDF containing an escape sequence for a terminal emulator.

Attack profile

How easy it is to exploit

Attack vector: Local
Complexity: Low
Privileges needed: None
User interaction: Required

What an attacker can affect

Confidentiality: High
Integrity: High
Availability: High

Exploit likelihood

2.94%Up 1.6 points since Feb 4, 2022

What each source reports

NVD Score used 7.8

The error function in Error.cc in poppler before 0.21.4 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands via a PDF containing an escape sequence for a terminal emulator.

Record: CVE-2012-2142
CVSS 3.1: 7.8 HighCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
CVSS 2.0: 6.8 MediumAV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P
Updated: 2026-11-02

CVE List No score

The error function in Error.cc in poppler before 0.21.4 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands via a PDF containing an escape sequence for a terminal emulator.

Record: CVE-2012-2142
Updated: 2026-11-02

EUVDEUVD-2012-2139 No score

The error function in Error.cc in poppler before 0.21.4 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands via a PDF containing an escape sequence for a terminal emulator.

Record: EUVD-2012-2139
Updated: 2026-11-03

GitHub AdvisoriesGHSA-pwcf-7grp-gwmj No score

The error function in Error.cc in poppler before 0.21.4 allows remote attackers to execute...

The error function in Error.cc in poppler before 0.21.4 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands via a PDF containing an escape sequence for a terminal emulator.

Record: GHSA-pwcf-7grp-gwmj
Updated: 2026-11-02

OSV 7.8

The error function in Error.cc in poppler before 0.21.4 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands via a PDF containing an escape sequence for a terminal emulator.

Record: CVE-2012-2142
CVSS 3.1: 7.8 HighCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Updated: 2026-11-02

OSVDEBIAN-CVE-2012-2142 7.8

The error function in Error.cc in poppler before 0.21.4 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands via a PDF containing an escape sequence for a terminal emulator.

Record: DEBIAN-CVE-2012-2142
CVSS 3.1: 7.8 HighCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Updated: 2026-11-02

OSVMGASA-2013-0261 No score

Updated xpdf packages fixes security vulnerability

PDF files could be used to inject shell code when xpdf was run from some terminal emulators, due to the use of escape sequences in error messages (CVE-2012-2142).

Record: MGASA-2013-0261
Updated: 2026-11-02

Affected products

Affected packages

Affected packages
Package	Affected	Fixed
`poppler` Debian:12	before 0.18.4-7	0.18.4-7
`poppler` Debian:13	before 0.18.4-7	0.18.4-7
`poppler` Debian:14	before 0.18.4-7	0.18.4-7
`xpdf` Mageia:2	before 3.03-2.1.mga2	3.03-2.1.mga2
`xpdf` Mageia:3	before 3.03-4.1.mga3	3.03-4.1.mga3

History

History
Recorded	Changed	Sources
Nov 3, 2026	aliases	EUVD
Nov 2, 2026	first indexed	CVE List, GitHub Advisories, NVD, OSV

Dates are when Every CVE recorded each change. Upstream dates may differ.

In short

CVE-2012-2142 is a high vulnerability (CVSS 7.8) in Freedesktop Poppler, published August 26, 2013. No source lists public exploit code. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 2.94%, the 87th percentile. Fixed in poppler 0.18.4-7.

References

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