What is CVE-2018-5158?

CVE-2018-5158 is a high-severity code injection vulnerability in pdfjs-dist (npm), affecting versions >= 2.0.0, < 2.0.550. It is fixed in 2.0.550, 1.10.100. Untrusted input is evaluated as executable code within the application's runtime environment.

How severe is CVE-2018-5158?

CVE-2018-5158 has a CVSS score of 8.8 (High). This score reflects the worst-case severity of the vulnerability, not your specific exposure. Whether it represents real risk in your environment depends on whether the vulnerable code is present and reachable.

Which versions of pdfjs-dist are affected by CVE-2018-5158?

pdfjs-dist (npm) versions >= 2.0.0, < 2.0.550 is affected.

Is there a fix for CVE-2018-5158?

Yes. CVE-2018-5158 is fixed in 2.0.550, 1.10.100. Upgrade to this version or later.

Is CVE-2018-5158 exploitable, and should I be worried?

Whether CVE-2018-5158 is exploitable in your environment depends on whether the vulnerable code is present and reachable. A CVSS score is a worst-case rating; it does not account for your specific deployment, configuration, or usage patterns. Kodem, an Intelligent Application Security platform, uses runtime intelligence to show which vulnerabilities actually execute in production, so you can focus on the ones that represent real risk.

What actually determines whether CVE-2018-5158 is exploitable, and how bad it is?

Exploitability and impact are not fixed properties of a CVE. They depend on runtime truth: whether the vulnerable code is present, reachable, and actually executes in your application. A high CVSS score on a dependency that never runs is not the same as real risk. Kodem, an Intelligent Application Security platform, uses runtime intelligence to reveal which vulnerabilities actually execute in production, so teams prioritize the ones that genuinely matter.

CVE-2018-5158 in pdfjs-dist

Q: How severe is CVE-2018-5158?

CVE-2018-5158 has a CVSS score of 8.8 (High). This score reflects the worst-case severity of the vulnerability, not your specific exposure. Whether it represents real risk in your environment depends on whether the vulnerable code is present and reachable.

Q: Which versions of pdfjs-dist are affected by CVE-2018-5158?

pdfjs-dist (npm) versions >= 2.0.0, < 2.0.550 is affected.

Q: Is there a fix for CVE-2018-5158?

Yes. CVE-2018-5158 is fixed in 2.0.550, 1.10.100. Upgrade to this version or later.

Q: Is CVE-2018-5158 exploitable, and should I be worried?

Whether CVE-2018-5158 is exploitable in your environment depends on whether the vulnerable code is present and reachable. A CVSS score is a worst-case rating; it does not account for your specific deployment, configuration, or usage patterns. Kodem, an Intelligent Application Security platform, uses runtime intelligence to show which vulnerabilities actually execute in production, so you can focus on the ones that represent real risk.

Q: What actually determines whether CVE-2018-5158 is exploitable, and how bad it is?

Exploitability and impact are not fixed properties of a CVE. They depend on runtime truth: whether the vulnerable code is present, reachable, and actually executes in your application. A high CVSS score on a dependency that never runs is not the same as real risk. Kodem, an Intelligent Application Security platform, uses runtime intelligence to reveal which vulnerabilities actually execute in production, so teams prioritize the ones that genuinely matter.

Q: How do I fix CVE-2018-5158?

Upgrade: pdfjs-dist to 2.0.550 or later, pdfjs-dist to 1.10.100 or later.

Summary

Malicious PDF can inject JavaScript into PDF Viewer

The PDF viewer does not sufficiently sanitize PostScript calculator functions, allowing malicious JavaScript to be injected through a crafted PDF file. This JavaScript can then be run with the permissions of the PDF viewer by its worker. This vulnerability affects Firefox ESR < 52.8, Firefox < 60 and PDF.js < 2.0.550.

Impact

Untrusted input is evaluated as executable code within the application's runtime environment. Typical impact: arbitrary code execution within the application's privilege context.

CVE-2018-5158 has a CVSS score of 8.8 (High). The vector is network-reachable, no privileges required, and user interaction required. A CVSS score reflects the worst-case severity of the vulnerability, not your specific exposure. Whether this affects your application depends on whether the vulnerable code is present and reachable in your environment. A fixed version is available (2.0.550, 1.10.100); upgrading removes the vulnerable code path.

Affected versions

pdfjs-dist (>= 2.0.0, < 2.0.550) pdfjs-dist (< 1.10.100)

Security releases

pdfjs-dist → 2.0.550 (npm) pdfjs-dist → 1.10.100 (npm)

Kodem intelligence

Severity tells you how bad this could be in the worst case. It does not tell you whether you are exposed. Exploitability and impact are functions of runtime truth: whether the vulnerable code is present, reachable, and actually executes in your application. A vulnerable package can sit in your dependency tree and never run.

Kodem, an Intelligent Application Security platform, uses runtime intelligence to reveal which vulnerabilities actually execute in production, so teams prioritize the ones that genuinely matter. Kodem's runtime-powered SCA identifies whether this CVE is reachable in your applications.

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Remediation advice

Upgrade the following packages to resolve this vulnerability:

pdfjs-dist to 2.0.550 or later; pdfjs-dist to 1.10.100 or later

Kodem Kai can prioritize this vulnerability in your dependency tree and generate a fix recommendation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2018-5158? CVE-2018-5158 is a high-severity code injection vulnerability in pdfjs-dist (npm), affecting versions >= 2.0.0, < 2.0.550. It is fixed in 2.0.550, 1.10.100. Untrusted input is evaluated as executable code within the application's runtime environment.
How severe is CVE-2018-5158? CVE-2018-5158 has a CVSS score of 8.8 (High). This score reflects the worst-case severity of the vulnerability, not your specific exposure. Whether it represents real risk in your environment depends on whether the vulnerable code is present and reachable.
Which versions of pdfjs-dist are affected by CVE-2018-5158? pdfjs-dist (npm) versions >= 2.0.0, < 2.0.550 is affected.
Is there a fix for CVE-2018-5158? Yes. CVE-2018-5158 is fixed in 2.0.550, 1.10.100. Upgrade to this version or later.
Is CVE-2018-5158 exploitable, and should I be worried? Whether CVE-2018-5158 is exploitable in your environment depends on whether the vulnerable code is present and reachable. A CVSS score is a worst-case rating; it does not account for your specific deployment, configuration, or usage patterns. Kodem, an Intelligent Application Security platform, uses runtime intelligence to show which vulnerabilities actually execute in production, so you can focus on the ones that represent real risk. Get a demo
What actually determines whether CVE-2018-5158 is exploitable, and how bad it is? Exploitability and impact are not fixed properties of a CVE. They depend on runtime truth: whether the vulnerable code is present, reachable, and actually executes in your application. A high CVSS score on a dependency that never runs is not the same as real risk. Kodem, an Intelligent Application Security platform, uses runtime intelligence to reveal which vulnerabilities actually execute in production, so teams prioritize the ones that genuinely matter.
How do I fix CVE-2018-5158?
- Upgrade pdfjs-dist to 2.0.550 or later
- Upgrade pdfjs-dist to 1.10.100 or later

Other vulnerabilities in pdfjs-dist

CVE-IDSeverityPackage summary

CVE-2024-4367Highpdfjs-dist: PDF.js vulnerable to arbitrary JavaScript execution upon opening a malicious PDF