CVE-2023-42107 – This vulnerability in PDF-XChange Editor allows... (How to Fix)

Q: What is the severity of CVE-2023-42107?

CVE-2023-42107 has a CVSS score of 5.5 (MEDIUM). This vulnerability in PDF-XChange Editor allows attackers to read sensitive information from memory when users open malicious EMF files. The flaw exists in EMF file parsing where improper bounds checking enables out-of-bounds reads. Users of affected PDF-XChange Editor versions are vulnerable when opening untrusted documents.

📋 TL;DR

This vulnerability in PDF-XChange Editor allows attackers to read sensitive information from memory when users open malicious EMF files. The flaw exists in EMF file parsing where improper bounds checking enables out-of-bounds reads. Users of affected PDF-XChange Editor versions are vulnerable when opening untrusted documents.

💻 Affected Systems

Products:

PDF-XChange Editor

Versions: Versions prior to 10.1.1.380

Operating Systems: Windows

Default Config Vulnerable: ⚠️ Yes

Notes: All Windows installations with affected versions are vulnerable when processing EMF files.

📦 What is this software?

Pdf Tools by Pdf Xchange

View all CVEs affecting Pdf Tools →

Pdf Xchange Editor by Pdf Xchange

View all CVEs affecting Pdf Xchange Editor →

⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact

🔴

Worst Case

Information disclosure combined with other vulnerabilities could lead to arbitrary code execution in the current process context.

🟠

Likely Case

Information disclosure from memory, potentially exposing sensitive data or system information.

🟢

If Mitigated

Limited impact with proper file validation and user awareness preventing malicious file execution.

🌐 Internet-Facing: MEDIUM - Requires user interaction but malicious files can be delivered via web pages or email.

🏢 Internal Only: MEDIUM - Similar risk internally if users open untrusted documents from internal sources.

🎯 Exploit Status

Public PoC: ✅ No

Weaponized: UNKNOWN

Unauthenticated Exploit: ✅ No

Complexity: MEDIUM

Requires user interaction to open malicious file. Combined with other vulnerabilities for code execution.

🛠️ Fix & Mitigation

✅ Official Fix

Patch Version: 10.1.1.380 and later

Vendor Advisory: https://www.tracker-software.com/support/security-bulletins.html

Restart Required: Yes

Instructions:

1. Download latest version from official website. 2. Run installer. 3. Restart system. 4. Verify version is 10.1.1.380 or higher.

🔧 Temporary Workarounds

Disable EMF file processing

windows

Configure PDF-XChange Editor to block or warn on EMF file processing

Configure via Settings > File Associations > Disable EMF support

User awareness training

all

Train users to avoid opening untrusted EMF or PDF files

🧯 If You Can't Patch

Implement application whitelisting to prevent execution of untrusted files
Use email/web gateways to block EMF file attachments and downloads

🔍 How to Verify

Check if Vulnerable:

Check Help > About in PDF-XChange Editor for version number

Check Version:

In PDF-XChange Editor: Help > About

Verify Fix Applied:

Verify version is 10.1.1.380 or higher in Help > About

📡 Detection & Monitoring

Log Indicators:

Application crashes when processing EMF files
Unusual memory access patterns

Network Indicators:

Downloads of EMF files from untrusted sources

SIEM Query:

EventID=1000 OR EventID=1001 with PDF-XChange Editor in process name

📊 Metadata

CVE ID: CVE-2023-42107

CVSS v3 Score: 5.5 (MEDIUM)

CVSS Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N

CWE: CWE-125

Published: May 3, 2024

Last Updated: May 16, 2025

🔗 References

https://www.tracker-software.com/support/security-bulletins.html Vendor Advisory
https://www.zerodayinitiative.com/advisories/ZDI-23-1487/ Third Party Advisory
https://www.tracker-software.com/support/security-bulletins.html Vendor Advisory
https://www.zerodayinitiative.com/advisories/ZDI-23-1487/ Third Party Advisory

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🔗 Related Vulnerabilities

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