CVE-2003-0434Acrobat Vulnerability
Various PDF viewers including (1) Adobe Acrobat 5.06 and (2) Xpdf 1.01 allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands via shell metacharacters in an embedded hyperlink.
Published Jul 24, 2003 · Updated Aug 4, 2026 · Also known as DEBIAN-CVE-2003-0434
Key Facts
Patch immediately- CVE-2003-0434 is a high-severity vulnerability (CVSS 7.5 v2) affecting Acrobat (Adobe), Xpdf, Mandrake Linux (Mandrakesoft) and 4 more products.
- It is not listed in any known-exploited vulnerabilities catalog. Public exploit code is available.
- EPSS estimates a 41% probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
- Fixed versions are available, including Xpdf 2.02pl1-1.
- Brandefense priority: patch immediately, because public exploit code exists for a high-severity flaw.
Scores
CVSS v2
7.5
AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P
EPSS (30-day exploit likelihood)
41%
Higher than 98.6% of all scored CVEs
Exploit maturity
Proof of concept
ATLAS score
43/100
Publication score, see How it works
Exploitation Verdict
KEV listed
Not listed
Federal due date
None
No federal due date
Ransomware use
Not reported
Attributed actors
None named
Exploit & Defence Guidance
Exploit maturity
Proof of concept
Public exploit code
1
Proof-of-concept links
In-the-wild evidence
0
Reports of active use
Advisories And Exploit References
- advisoryhttps://security-tracker.debian.org/tracker/CVE-2003-0434
- advisoryRHSA-2003:196
- advisoryRHSA-2003:197
- advisoryRHSA-2003:216
- patchRHSA-2003:196
- patchRHSA-2003:197
Description
Various PDF viewers including (1) Adobe Acrobat 5.06 and (2) Xpdf 1.01 allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands via shell metacharacters in an embedded hyperlink.
Affected Products
25 affected entries in total| Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
| AcrobatAdobe | 5.0.6 | n/a |
| XpdfXpdf | 1.1 | 2.02pl1-1 |
| Mandrake LinuxMandrakesoft | 9.0, 9.1 | n/a |
| Mandrake Linux Corporate ServerMandrakesoft | 2.1 | n/a |
| Enterprise LinuxRedhat | 2.1 | n/a |
Patched Releases
Xpdf
2.02pl1-1
Timeline
Publicly disclosed
Jul 24, 2003
Last updated
Aug 4, 2026
References
- advisorysecurity-tracker.debian.org · CVE-2003-0434
- advisoryRHSA-2003:196
- advisoryRHSA-2003:197
- advisoryRHSA-2003:216
- patchRHSA-2003:196
FAQ
Common Questions.
Various PDF viewers including (1) Adobe Acrobat 5.06 and (2) Xpdf 1.01 allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands via shell metacharacters in an embedded hyperlink.
Affected: Acrobat (Adobe) versions 5.0.6; Xpdf versions 1.1; Mandrake Linux (Mandrakesoft) versions 9.0, 9.1, among others. The full list is in the CVE brief.
It is not listed in any known-exploited vulnerabilities catalog.
No, it is not currently listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog.
Public exploit code is available.
Fixed versions are available, including Xpdf 2.02pl1-1.
Brandefense priority: patch immediately, because public exploit code exists for a high-severity flaw.
Is CVE-2003-0434 On Your Attack Surface?
Brandefense matches it against the products discovered on your perimeter and opens a finding the day a CVE like this is listed.
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