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Vulnerability record · CVE-2020-21896 · published 22 August 2023

CVE-2020-21896: Artifex mupdf use after free vulnerability

Artifex · Mupdf

A Use After Free vulnerability in svg_dev_text_span_as_paths_defs function in source/fitz/svg-device.c in Artifex Software MuPDF 1.16.0 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service via opening of a crafted PDF file.

5.5 CVSS 3.1 Medium EPSS 0.51% · top 58.5% CWE-416 · Use after free
5.5CVSS 3.1 base score
0.51%EPSS exploitation probability, 30 days
NoNot in CISA KEV
1Affected product versions listed by NVD
4References, 2 tagged exploit
17 Jun 2026Last modified by NVD

Description

A Use After Free vulnerability in svg_dev_text_span_as_paths_defs function in source/fitz/svg-device.c in Artifex Software MuPDF 1.16.0 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service via opening of a crafted PDF file.

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

Affected products

1 vulnerable configurations from NVD's CPE data, grouped by vendor and product.

References

LinkTags
http://www.ghostscript.com/cgi-bin/findgit.cgi?8719e07834d6a72b6b4131539e49ed1e8e2ff79e
https://bugs.ghostscript.com/show_bug.cgi?id=701294 ExploitIssue TrackingPatchVendor Advisory
https://bugs.ghostscript.com/show_bug.cgi?id=701294 ExploitIssue TrackingPatchVendor Advisory
https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2025/08/msg00017.html

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Related vulnerabilities

Same products first, then exploited flaws of the same weakness class.

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Source: NIST National Vulnerability Database (record CVE-2020-21896), CISA KEV, FIRST EPSS (scores of 2026-10-12). This page is refreshed as NVD updates the record.