GHSA-4c32-xmgj-2g98
HIGHGHSA-4c32-xmgj-2g98 is a high-severity (CVSS 7.8) vulnerability in org.apache.pdfbox:pdfbox. O3 Security confirms whether GHSA-4c32-xmgj-2g98 is actually reachable in your code before you act, and blocks exploitation at runtime until you patch.
High severity vulnerability that affects org.apache.pdfbox:pdfbox
Real-World Exposure
org.apache.pdfbox:pdfbox☕org.apache.pdfbox:pdfboxReal-time download stats are indexed for npm and PyPI packages. This vulnerability affects Maven packages — download data is not available via public APIs for these ecosystems.
Description
Apache PDFBox before 1.8.12 and 2.x before 2.0.1 does not properly initialize the XML parsers, which allows context-dependent attackers to conduct XML External Entity (XXE) attacks via a crafted PDF.
Affected Packages
| Ecosystem | Package | Vulnerable range | Fix |
|---|---|---|---|
| ☕Maven | org.apache.pdfbox:pdfbox | all versions | 1.8.12 |
| ☕Maven | org.apache.pdfbox:pdfbox | ≥ 2.0.0&&< 2.0.1 | 2.0.1 |
Detection & mitigation playbook
Open-source dependencyDetect
Scan your dependency tree (package-lock.json, pnpm-lock.yaml, requirements.txt, go.sum, etc.) for org.apache.pdfbox:pdfbox. O3's reachability analysis confirms whether the vulnerable code path is actually invoked in your application, so you act on real exposure instead of every transitive match.
Fix
Update org.apache.pdfbox:pdfbox to 1.8.12 or later, then make sure no transitive (indirect) dependency still pins the vulnerable range — O3 confirms GHSA-4c32-xmgj-2g98 is resolved across your whole dependency graph.
Workarounds
If you can't upgrade right away: gate or disable the affected feature, validate untrusted input at the boundary, and avoid passing attacker-controlled data into the vulnerable path. O3's runtime protection blocks exploitation in production as an interim safeguard until the upgrade lands.
How O3 protects you
O3 pinpoints whether GHSA-4c32-xmgj-2g98 is reachable in your code and exactly where to fix it, then blocks exploitation in production at runtime until the patched version is deployed.
Tailored to GHSA-4c32-xmgj-2g98. Runtime protection reduces exposure until a permanent patch is applied and verified — it complements patching, it doesn't replace it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is GHSA-4c32-xmgj-2g98 in your dependencies?
O3 detects GHSA-4c32-xmgj-2g98 across Maven dependencies and uses function-level reachability to confirm whether the vulnerable code path is actually reachable — not just present. No false positives.