Poppler ia a library for rendering PDF files, and examining or modifying their structure. A use-after-free (write) vulnerability has been detected in versions Poppler prior to 25.10.0 within the StructTreeRoot class. The issue arises from the use of raw pointers to elements of a `std::vector`, which can lead to dangling pointers when the vector is resized. The vulnerability stems from the way that refToParentMap stores references to `std::vector` elements using raw pointers. These pointers may become invalid when the vector is resized. This vulnerability is a common security problem involving the use of raw pointers to `std::vectors`. Internally, `std::vector `stores its elements in a dynamically allocated array. When the array reaches its capacity and a new element is added, the vector reallocates a larger block of memory and moves all the existing elements to the new location. At this point if any pointers to elements are stored before a resize occurs, they become dangling pointers once the reallocation happens. Version 25.10.0 contains a patch for the issue.
History

Mon, 20 Oct 2025 16:30:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Poppler
Poppler poppler
Vendors & Products Poppler
Poppler poppler

Tue, 14 Oct 2025 15:15:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics ssvc

{'options': {'Automatable': 'no', 'Exploitation': 'none', 'Technical Impact': 'partial'}, 'version': '2.0.3'}


Mon, 13 Oct 2025 12:15:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
References
Metrics threat_severity

None

cvssV3_1

{'score': 6.2, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H'}

threat_severity

Moderate


Fri, 10 Oct 2025 22:30:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description Poppler ia a library for rendering PDF files, and examining or modifying their structure. A use-after-free (write) vulnerability has been detected in versions Poppler prior to 25.10.0 within the StructTreeRoot class. The issue arises from the use of raw pointers to elements of a `std::vector`, which can lead to dangling pointers when the vector is resized. The vulnerability stems from the way that refToParentMap stores references to `std::vector` elements using raw pointers. These pointers may become invalid when the vector is resized. This vulnerability is a common security problem involving the use of raw pointers to `std::vectors`. Internally, `std::vector `stores its elements in a dynamically allocated array. When the array reaches its capacity and a new element is added, the vector reallocates a larger block of memory and moves all the existing elements to the new location. At this point if any pointers to elements are stored before a resize occurs, they become dangling pointers once the reallocation happens. Version 25.10.0 contains a patch for the issue.
Title GHSL-2025-042: Poppler has Use-After-Free
Weaknesses CWE-416
References
Metrics cvssV4_0

{'score': 6.1, 'vector': 'CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:U'}


cve-icon MITRE

Status: PUBLISHED

Assigner: GitHub_M

Published: 2025-10-10T22:11:20.494Z

Updated: 2025-10-14T14:59:55.528Z

Reserved: 2025-06-20T17:42:25.708Z

Link: CVE-2025-52885

cve-icon Vulnrichment

Updated: 2025-10-14T14:59:50.541Z

cve-icon NVD

Status : Awaiting Analysis

Published: 2025-10-10T23:15:36.397

Modified: 2025-10-14T19:36:59.730

Link: CVE-2025-52885

cve-icon Redhat

Severity : Moderate

Publid Date: 2025-10-10T22:11:20Z

Links: CVE-2025-52885 - Bugzilla