CVE-2023-42062
Official description Straight from the sourceThe vendor's or NVD's own wording, published unedited. Authoritative, but often terse — it says what broke, rarely what to do.
NVD · uneditedPDF-XChange Editor U3D File Parsing Uninitialized Variable Remote Code Execution Vulnerability. This vulnerability allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected installations of PDF-XChange Editor. User interaction is required to exploit this vulnerability in that the target must visit a malicious page or open a malicious file. The specific flaw exists within the parsing of U3D files. The issue results from the lack of proper initialization of memory prior to accessing it. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to execute code in the context of the current process. Was ZDI-CAN-20935.
Technical summary Written by usOur analysis, written from the advisory, the CVSS vector and the affected-version data. It adds context the advisory leaves out, and never invents facts that are not in the source.
dbcve analysis · high confidencePDF-XChange Editor contains an uninitialized variable vulnerability in its U3D (Universal 3D) file parsing logic. When the application processes a specially crafted U3D file, it accesses memory that was not properly initialized, leading to arbitrary code execution in the context of the current process. User interaction is required (opening a malicious PDF file).
Verify against the referenced sources before acting — the references below are authoritative for this CVE, this summary is not.
Affected products & versions What the vendor confirmedThe version ranges the vendor confirmed as vulnerable. If your version sits inside a range here, treat yourself as exposed until you have upgraded.
NVD · CPE data= 9.5.368.0= 9.5.368.0CVSS breakdown How the score is builtThe industry scoring standard. It rates how the flaw is reached, what it takes to exploit, and what an attacker gains — the score is derived from those, not the other way round.
From the vector- Attack vector
- Local
- Complexity
- Low
- Privileges
- None
- User interaction
- Required
- Scope
- Unchanged
- Confidentiality
- High
- Integrity
- High
- Availability
- High
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Am I affected? How to checkSteps we derive from the advisory and the affected-version data, so you can decide whether this CVE reaches your setup. They are a guide, not a scan — your own configuration is the authority.
dbcve checksWork through these to decide whether this CVE applies to you.
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Identify if PDF-XChange Editor is installedCheck for the application in the system program files directory (typically C:\Program Files\PDF-XChange\ or C:\Program Files (x86)\PDF-XChange\) or look for the application in the Windows Start Menu. Also check the Windows installed programs list via Control Panel > Programs and Features.Affected if PDF-XChange Editor or PDF-XChange PDF Tools is present on the system
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Determine the installed version of PDF-XChange EditorRight-click the PDF-XChange Editor executable (PDFXCview.exe or PDFXEdit.exe), select Properties, and view the Version tab. Alternatively, open the application, go to Help > About to see the exact version number.Affected if The installed version is exactly 9.5.368.0
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Determine the installed version of PDF-XChange PDF ToolsCheck the version of the installed PDF Tools components by looking at the properties of the installed DLL files or check the program's version through its interface if available.Affected if The installed PDF Tools version is exactly 9.5.368.0
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Verify if U3D content parsing is possibleAttempt to open a test PDF file containing a U3D 3D object, or examine the application settings for 3D content handling. The vulnerability triggers when processing U3D data within PDF files.Affected if The application can open PDF files with embedded U3D 3D content and processes them without explicit blocking of 3D elements
A user is affected if PDF-XChange Editor or PDF-XChange PDF Tools version 9.5.368.0 is installed and the application is used to open PDF files, particularly those containing U3D 3D content.
Generated from the published advisory. Verify against your own configuration.
Remediation Closing itWhat it takes to close this. Where a vendor fix exists we point at it; where none exists we say so plainly, and can build one. Effort estimates are scoped from the advisory, not from your codebase.
From vendor dataApply vendor patches from PDF-XChange Editor when available; avoid opening untrusted PDF files from unknown sources as a primary defense.
- Consultation4.0 h
- Implementation2.0 h
- Testing6.0 h
- Review / QA2.0 h
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Scan for this in your stack
Free · runs locallyCheck whether your project pulls in CVE-2023-42062 — or any other known-vulnerable package — straight from your lock files. Free and open source; it runs locally and uploads nothing.
References Go to the primary sourcePrimary sources — vendor advisories, patches and trackers. Where our summary and a reference disagree, the reference wins.
Primary sourcesPractitioner notes
ContributedPeer-ranked notes from engineers who’ve handled CVE-2023-42062 in production — separate from our analysis above.
The advisory tells you what broke. It rarely tells you what actually worked. If you’ve dealt with this one, that detail is what the next engineer is searching for.
- The version that genuinely resolved it — not the one the vendor claimed
- A config change or rule that shut the vector down
- A gotcha in the upgrade path that cost you an afternoon
No notes yet
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- Verified mitigations, workarounds, and config changes
- Version or environment caveats, and links to real fixes
- No weaponised exploit code, or anything meant to cause harm
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