# What is CVE-2021-27906?

> CVE-2021-27906 is a medium-severity flaw (CVSS 5.5) in Pdfbox from Apache, published on 19 March 2021. It is not on the list of flaws known to be exploited today. The latest forecast puts its chance of use in the next 30 days at 3.3%. If you run an affected version, plan in the vendor’s fix.

Canonical page: https://www.precursorintelligence.com/what-is/cve-2021-27906

## At a glance

- **Verdict:** Plan it in. No sign of exploitation and a low forecast. Patch it in your normal update cycle.
- **Precursor Intelligence risk score:** 25 out of 100 (Low); action: Monitor. Kept up to date as the evidence changes.
- **Severity:** Medium (CVSS 5.5 out of 10)
- **Known to be exploited:** No, not on the list of flaws known to be exploited today
- **Chance of use in the next 30 days:** 3.3% (latest exploit-likelihood forecast)
- **Published:** 19 March 2021
- **Record last updated:** 7 November 2023
- **Main product:** Pdfbox from Apache
- **Affected products:** 19

## What is CVE-2021-27906? In plain terms

An attacker has to be already on the device without logging in, but a person has to take an action first. If it works, the attacker can take it offline.

### The official description

A carefully crafted PDF file can trigger an OutOfMemory-Exception while loading the file. This issue affects Apache PDFBox version 2.0.22 and prior 2.0.x versions.

### What kind of flaw is it?

- CWE-789: Memory Allocation with Excessive Size Value

### How an attack on it works

- Where an attacker can be: Already on the device
- How hard it is to pull off: Easy: no special conditions
- Login needed first: No login needed
- Does someone have to click: Yes, a person has to take an action
- What an attacker gets: Can take it offline

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

## Is CVE-2021-27906 being exploited? Not that we know of

It is not on the list of flaws known to be exploited today. The latest forecast puts the chance of it being used in the next 30 days at 3.3%. That can change at any time, which is why we keep watching.

Exploit likelihood over the last 7 days: 3.3%, 3.3%, 3.3%, 3.3%, 3.3%, 3.3%, 3.3%.

### Timeline

- 19 March 2021: Published
- 7 November 2023: Record last updated

### How Precursor Intelligence ranks it

CVE-2021-27906 scores **25 out of 100 (Low)**, with the action "Monitor".

Every published flaw gets a risk score from 0 to 100, kept up to date as the evidence changes. Four things go into the score, from the one that counts most to the ones that count less:

- Evidence it is being exploited: biggest factor
- How severe it is: strong factor
- How widely exposed it is: smaller factor
- Threat activity around it: smaller factor

85 and above is Critical. Anything confirmed as exploited is always marked for an emergency patch, whatever its score. When this flaw matches software you track, it lands in your list with its score and the reasons behind it.

## Who is affected by CVE-2021-27906?

The published record lists 19 products. Versions are as published: "before 11.2.8.0" means every version up to, but not including, 11.2.8.0.

- [Pdfbox](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/apache/pdfbox) by [Apache](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/apache) (Application): 2.0.0 to 2.0.22
- [Retail Xstore Point of Service](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/oracle/retail_xstore_point_of_service) by [Oracle](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/oracle) (Application): 16.0.6, 17.0.4, 18.0.3, 19.0.2, 20.0.1
- [Primavera Unifier](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/oracle/primavera_unifier) by [Oracle](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/oracle) (Application): 17.7 to 17.12, 18.8, 19.12, 20.12
- [Banking Corporate Lending Process Management](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/oracle/banking_corporate_lending_process_management) by [Oracle](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/oracle) (Application): 14.2.0, 14.3.0, 14.5.0
- [Banking Credit Facilities Process Management](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/oracle/banking_credit_facilities_process_management) by [Oracle](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/oracle) (Application): 14.2.0, 14.3.0, 14.5.0
- [Banking Supply Chain Finance](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/oracle/banking_supply_chain_finance) by [Oracle](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/oracle) (Application): 14.2.0, 14.3.0, 14.5.0
- [Banking Trade Finance Process Management](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/oracle/banking_trade_finance_process_management) by [Oracle](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/oracle) (Application): 14.2.0, 14.3.0, 14.5.0
- [Banking Virtual Account Management](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/oracle/banking_virtual_account_management) by [Oracle](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/oracle) (Application): 14.2.0, 14.3.0, 14.5.0
- [Fedora](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/fedoraproject/fedora) by [Fedoraproject](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/fedoraproject) (Operating system): 32, 33, 34
- [Flexcube Universal Banking](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/oracle/flexcube_universal_banking) by [Oracle](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/oracle) (Application): 14.0.0 to 14.3.0, 14.5.0
- [Hyperion Financial Reporting](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/oracle/hyperion_financial_reporting) by [Oracle](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/oracle) (Application): 11.1.2.4, 11.2.6.0
- [Peoplesoft Enterprise Peopletools](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/oracle/peoplesoft_enterprise_peopletools) by [Oracle](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/oracle) (Application): 8.58, 8.59
- [Webcenter Sites](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/oracle/webcenter_sites) by [Oracle](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/oracle) (Application): 12.2.1.3.0, 12.2.1.4.0
- [Banking Treasury Management](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/oracle/banking_treasury_management) by [Oracle](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/oracle) (Application): 14.5
- [Communications Messaging Server](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/oracle/communications_messaging_server) by [Oracle](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/oracle) (Operating system): 8.1
- [Communications Session Report Manager](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/oracle/communications_session_report_manager) by [Oracle](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/oracle) (Application): 8.0.0 to 8.2.4.0
- [Hyperion Infrastructure Technology](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/oracle/hyperion_infrastructure_technology) by [Oracle](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/oracle) (Application): before 11.2.8.0
- [Outside in Technology](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/oracle/outside_in_technology) by [Oracle](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/oracle) (Application): 8.5.5
- [Retail Customer Management and Segmentation Foundation](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/oracle/retail_customer_management_and_segmentation_foundation) by [Oracle](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/oracle) (Application): 19.0

## How do I fix CVE-2021-27906?

1. **Check whether you run it.** Compare your versions with the affected products above. Not sure what you run? Precursor Intelligence can work it out from your public website, or you can pick it from a list.
2. **Apply the vendor’s fix.** Install the update named in the vendor’s advisory. We’ve put the advisories and patch notes first in the list.
3. **If you can’t patch today.** Follow any mitigation the vendor publishes, and limit who can reach the affected system from the internet until the update is in.
4. **Keep an eye on it.** Track the product and we tell you as soon as we spot this flaw on the list of exploited flaws, or a jump in its exploit likelihood.

### References

- [oracle.com](https://www.oracle.com//security-alerts/cpujul2021.html) (Patch, Third-party advisory)
- [oracle.com](https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpuoct2021.html) (Patch, Third-party advisory)
- [openwall.com](http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2021/03/19/10) (Mailing list, Vendor advisory)
- [lists.apache.org](https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/rf35026148ccc0e1af133501c0d003d052883fcc65107b3ff5d3b61cd%40%3Cusers.pdfbox.apache.org%3E) (Mailing list, Vendor advisory)
- [lists.apache.org](https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/r1218e60c32829f76943ecaca79237120c2ec1ab266459d711a578b50%40%3Cdev.pdfbox.apache.org%3E)
- [lists.apache.org](https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/r1d268642f8b52456ee8f876b888b8ed7a9e9568c7770789f3ded7f9e%40%3Ccommits.ofbiz.apache.org%3E)
- [lists.apache.org](https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/r4cbc3f6981cd0a1a482531df9d44e4c42a7f63342a7ba78b7bff8a1b%40%3Cnotifications.james.apache.org%3E)
- [lists.apache.org](https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/r54594251369e14c185da9662a5340a52afbbdf75d61c9c3a69c8f2e8%40%3Cdev.pdfbox.apache.org%3E)
- [lists.apache.org](https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/r5c8e2125d18af184c80f7a986fbe47eaf0d30457cd450133adc235ac%40%3Ccommits.ofbiz.apache.org%3E)
- [lists.apache.org](https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/r64982b768c8a2220b07aaf813bd099a9863de0d13eb212fd4efe208f%40%3Cusers.pdfbox.apache.org%3E)
- [lists.apache.org](https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/r6e067a6d83ccb6892d0ff867bd216704f21fb0b6a854dea34be04f12%40%3Cnotifications.ofbiz.apache.org%3E)
- [lists.apache.org](https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/r7ee634c21816c69ce829d0c41f35afa2a53a99bdd3c7cce8644fdc0e%40%3Cnotifications.ofbiz.apache.org%3E)
- [lists.apache.org](https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/r9ffe179385637b0b5cbdabd0246118005b4b8232909d2d14cd68ccd3%40%3Ccommits.ofbiz.apache.org%3E)
- [lists.apache.org](https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/raa35746227f3f8d50fff1db9899524423a718f6f35cd39bd4769fa6c%40%3Cnotifications.ofbiz.apache.org%3E)
- [lists.apache.org](https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/rc69140d894c6a9c67a8097a25656cce59b46a5620c354ceba10543c3%40%3Cnotifications.ofbiz.apache.org%3E)
- [lists.apache.org](https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/rdf78aef4793362e778e21e34328b0456e302bde4b7e74f229df0ee04%40%3Cannounce.apache.org%3E)
- [lists.apache.org](https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/re1e35881482e07dc2be6058d9b44483457f36133cac67956686ad9b9%40%3Cnotifications.ofbiz.apache.org%3E)
- [lists.fedoraproject.org](https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/2AVLKAHFMPH72TTP25INPZPGX5FODK3H/)
- [lists.fedoraproject.org](https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/6KDA2U4KL2N3XT3PM4ZJEBBA6JJIH2G4/)
- [lists.fedoraproject.org](https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/6PT72QOFDXLJ7PLTN66EMG5EHPTE7TFZ/)
- [oracle.com](https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpuapr2022.html) (Third-party advisory)

## Questions

### What is CVE-2021-27906?

CVE-2021-27906 is a medium-severity flaw in Pdfbox from Apache, published on 19 March 2021. An attacker has to be already on the device without logging in, but a person has to take an action first. If it works, the attacker can take it offline.

### How serious is CVE-2021-27906?

It scores 5.5 out of 10 on the CVSS severity scale, which is medium. Our risk score for CVE-2021-27906 is 25 out of 100, which is Low. Its action is "Monitor". No sign of exploitation and a low forecast. Patch it in your normal update cycle.

### Is CVE-2021-27906 being exploited?

It is not on the list of flaws known to be exploited today. The latest forecast puts the chance of it being used in the next 30 days at 3.3%. That can change at any time, which is why we keep watching.

### Which versions does CVE-2021-27906 affect?

For Pdfbox from Apache: 2.0.0 to 2.0.22. The record lists 19 products in all, each with its versions, under "Who is affected" on this page.

### How do I fix CVE-2021-27906?

Install the update the vendor names in its advisory, linked first under "How do I fix" on this page. If you can't patch today, follow the vendor's mitigation and limit who can reach the affected system from the internet.

## Does CVE-2021-27906 affect you?

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- **Tell us what you run.** Pick your software from a list, or let us work it out from your website.
- **We match it to every flaw.** Over 400,000 published flaws, checked against your list.
- **Ranked by real-world risk.** Every flaw gets a 0 to 100 risk score, kept up to date, led by evidence criminals are using it.
- **Told as soon as we know.** An alert by email, in the app or by webhook to your own tools.

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