CVE-2021-40160 Vulnerability Analysis & Exploit Details

CVE-2021-40160
Vulnerability Scoring

7.8
/10
Very High Risk

Highly exploitable, CVE-2021-40160 poses a critical security risk that could lead to severe breaches.

Attack Complexity Details

  • Attack Complexity: Low
    Exploits can be performed without significant complexity or special conditions.
  • Attack Vector: Local
    Vulnerability requires local system access.
  • Privileges Required: None
    No privileges are required for exploitation.
  • Scope: Unchanged
    Exploit remains within the originally vulnerable component.
  • User Interaction: Required
    User interaction is necessary for successful exploitation.

CVE-2021-40160 Details

Status: Modified

Last updated: 🕓 17 Jun 2026, 04:06 UTC
Originally published on: 🕖 23 Dec 2021, 19:15 UTC

Time between publication and last update: 1636 days

CVSS Release: version 3

CVSS3 Source

nvd@nist.gov

CVSS3 Type

Primary

CVSS3 Vector

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

CVE-2021-40160 Vulnerability Summary

CVE-2021-40160: PDFTron prior to 9.0.7 version may be forced to read beyond allocated boundaries when parsing a maliciously crafted PDF file. This vulnerability can be exploited to execute arbitrary code.

Assessing the Risk of CVE-2021-40160

Access Complexity Graph

The exploitability of CVE-2021-40160 depends on two key factors: attack complexity (the level of effort required to execute an exploit) and privileges required (the access level an attacker needs).

Exploitability Analysis for CVE-2021-40160

With low attack complexity and no required privileges, CVE-2021-40160 is an easy target for cybercriminals. Organizations should prioritize immediate mitigation measures to prevent unauthorized access and data breaches.

Understanding AC and PR

A lower complexity and fewer privilege requirements make exploitation easier. Security teams should evaluate these aspects to determine the urgency of mitigation strategies, such as patch management and access control policies.

Attack Complexity (AC) measures the difficulty in executing an exploit. A high AC means that specific conditions must be met, making an attack more challenging, while a low AC means the vulnerability can be exploited with minimal effort.

Privileges Required (PR) determine the level of system access necessary for an attack. Vulnerabilities requiring no privileges are more accessible to attackers, whereas high privilege requirements limit exploitation to authorized users with elevated access.

CVSS Score Breakdown Chart

Above is the CVSS Sub-score Breakdown for CVE-2021-40160, illustrating how Base, Impact, and Exploitability factors combine to form the overall severity rating. A higher sub-score typically indicates a more severe or easier-to-exploit vulnerability.

CIA Impact Analysis

Below is the Impact Analysis for CVE-2021-40160, showing how Confidentiality, Integrity, and Availability might be affected if the vulnerability is exploited. Higher values usually signal greater potential damage.

  • Confidentiality: High
    Exploiting CVE-2021-40160 can result in unauthorized access to sensitive data, severely compromising data privacy.
  • Integrity: High
    CVE-2021-40160 could allow unauthorized modifications to data, potentially affecting system reliability and trust.
  • Availability: High
    CVE-2021-40160 can disrupt system operations, potentially causing complete denial of service (DoS).

Exploit Prediction Scoring System (EPSS)

The EPSS score estimates the probability that this vulnerability will be exploited in the near future.

EPSS Score: 0.114% (probability of exploit)

EPSS Percentile: 46.92% (lower percentile = lower relative risk)
This vulnerability is less risky than approximately 53.08% of others.

CVE-2021-40160 References

External References

CWE Common Weakness Enumeration

CWE-125

CAPEC Common Attack Pattern Enumeration and Classification

  • Overread Buffers CAPEC-540 An adversary attacks a target by providing input that causes an application to read beyond the boundary of a defined buffer. This typically occurs when a value influencing where to start or stop reading is set to reflect positions outside of the valid memory location of the buffer. This type of attack may result in exposure of sensitive information, a system crash, or arbitrary code execution.

Vulnerable Configurations

  • cpe:2.3:a:autodesk:revit:2020:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:autodesk:revit:2020:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:autodesk:revit:2021:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:autodesk:revit:2021:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:autodesk:revit:2021.1.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:autodesk:revit:2021.1.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:autodesk:revit:2021.1.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:autodesk:revit:2021.1.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:autodesk:revit:2021.1.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:autodesk:revit:2021.1.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:autodesk:revit:2022:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:autodesk:revit:2022:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:autodesk:revit:2022.0.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:autodesk:revit:2022.0.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:autodesk:navisworks:2019:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:autodesk:navisworks:2019:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:autodesk:navisworks:2019.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:autodesk:navisworks:2019.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:autodesk:navisworks:2019.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:autodesk:navisworks:2019.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:autodesk:navisworks:2020:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:autodesk:navisworks:2020:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:autodesk:navisworks:2020.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:autodesk:navisworks:2020.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:autodesk:navisworks:2020.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:autodesk:navisworks:2020.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:autodesk:navisworks:2020.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:autodesk:navisworks:2020.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:autodesk:navisworks:2021:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:autodesk:navisworks:2021:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:autodesk:navisworks:2021.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:autodesk:navisworks:2021.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:autodesk:navisworks:2021.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:autodesk:navisworks:2021.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:autodesk:navisworks:2022:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:autodesk:navisworks:2022:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:autodesk:advance_steel:2022:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:autodesk:advance_steel:2022:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:autodesk:advance_steel:2022.0.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:autodesk:advance_steel:2022.0.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:autodesk:autocad:2022:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:autodesk:autocad:2022:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:autodesk:autocad:2022:*:*:*:*:macos:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:autodesk:autocad:2022:*:*:*:*:macos:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:autodesk:autocad:2022:*:*:*:*:-:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:autodesk:autocad:2022:*:*:*:*:-:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:autodesk:autocad:2022.0.1:*:*:*:*:-:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:autodesk:autocad:2022.0.1:*:*:*:*:-:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:autodesk:autocad:2022.1:*:*:*:*:macos:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:autodesk:autocad:2022.1:*:*:*:*:macos:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:autodesk:autocad:2022.1:*:*:*:*:-:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:autodesk:autocad:2022.1:*:*:*:*:-:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:autodesk:autocad:2022.1.1:*:*:*:*:-:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:autodesk:autocad:2022.1.1:*:*:*:*:-:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:autodesk:autocad:2022.1.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:autodesk:autocad:2022.1.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:autodesk:autocad:2022.1.2:*:*:*:*:-:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:autodesk:autocad:2022.1.2:*:*:*:*:-:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:autodesk:autocad:2022.1.3:*:*:*:*:-:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:autodesk:autocad:2022.1.3:*:*:*:*:-:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:autodesk:autocad:2022.1.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:autodesk:autocad:2022.1.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:autodesk:autocad:2022.1.4:*:*:*:*:-:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:autodesk:autocad:2022.1.4:*:*:*:*:-:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:autodesk:autocad:2022.1.5:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:autodesk:autocad:2022.1.5:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:autodesk:autocad:2022.1.5:*:*:*:*:-:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:autodesk:autocad:2022.1.5:*:*:*:*:-:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:autodesk:autocad:2022.1.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:autodesk:autocad:2022.1.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:autodesk:autocad:2022.1.6:*:*:*:*:-:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:autodesk:autocad:2022.1.6:*:*:*:*:-:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:autodesk:autocad_architecture:2022:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:autodesk:autocad_architecture:2022:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:autodesk:autocad_architecture:2022.0.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:autodesk:autocad_architecture:2022.0.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:autodesk:autocad_electrical:2022:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:autodesk:autocad_electrical:2022:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:autodesk:autocad_electrical:2022.0.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:autodesk:autocad_electrical:2022.0.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:autodesk:autocad_lt:2022:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:autodesk:autocad_lt:2022:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:autodesk:autocad_lt:2022:*:*:*:*:macos:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:autodesk:autocad_lt:2022:*:*:*:*:macos:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:autodesk:autocad_lt:2022:*:*:*:*:-:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:autodesk:autocad_lt:2022:*:*:*:*:-:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:autodesk:autocad_lt:2022.0.1:*:*:*:*:-:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:autodesk:autocad_lt:2022.0.1:*:*:*:*:-:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:autodesk:autocad_lt:2022.1:*:*:*:*:macos:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:autodesk:autocad_lt:2022.1:*:*:*:*:macos:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:autodesk:autocad_lt:2022.1.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:autodesk:autocad_lt:2022.1.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:autodesk:autocad_lt:2022.1.4:*:*:*:*:-:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:autodesk:autocad_lt:2022.1.4:*:*:*:*:-:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:autodesk:autocad_lt:2022.1.6:*:*:*:*:-:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:autodesk:autocad_lt:2022.1.6:*:*:*:*:-:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:autodesk:autocad_map_3d:2022:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:autodesk:autocad_map_3d:2022:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:autodesk:autocad_map_3d:2022.0.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:autodesk:autocad_map_3d:2022.0.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:autodesk:autocad_mechanical:2022:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:autodesk:autocad_mechanical:2022:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:autodesk:autocad_mechanical:2022.0.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:autodesk:autocad_mechanical:2022.0.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:autodesk:autocad_mep:2022:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:autodesk:autocad_mep:2022:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:autodesk:autocad_mep:2022.0.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:autodesk:autocad_mep:2022.0.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:autodesk:autocad_plant_3d:2022:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:autodesk:autocad_plant_3d:2022:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:autodesk:autocad_plant_3d:2022.0.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:autodesk:autocad_plant_3d:2022.0.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:autodesk:civil_3d:2022:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:autodesk:civil_3d:2022:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:autodesk:civil_3d:2022.0.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:autodesk:civil_3d:2022.0.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:autodesk:design_review:2018:-:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:autodesk:design_review:2018:-:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:autodesk:design_review:2018:hotfix:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:autodesk:design_review:2018:hotfix:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:autodesk:design_review:2018:hotfix2:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:autodesk:design_review:2018:hotfix2:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:autodesk:design_review:2018:hotfix3:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:autodesk:design_review:2018:hotfix3:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:autodesk:design_review:2018:hotfix4:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:autodesk:design_review:2018:hotfix4:*:*:*:*:*:*

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