---
title: "CVE-2012-2142\n    | Ubuntu"
description: Ubuntu is an open source software operating system that runs from the
  desktop, to the cloud, to all your internet connected things.
url: https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2012-2142?format=md
keywords: index, follow
---

# CVE-2012-2142

Publication date 9 January 2020

Last updated 25 August 2025

---

Ubuntu priority

**Low**

[Why this priority?](https://ubuntu.com/security/cves/about#priority )

## Cvss 3 Severity Score

**7.8 · High**

[Score breakdown](https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2012-2142?format=md#impact-score)

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## Description

The error function in Error.cc in poppler before 0.21.4 allows remote
attackers to execute arbitrary commands via a PDF containing an escape
sequence for a terminal emulator.

[Read the notes from the security team](https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2012-2142?format=md#notes)

## Status

Show unmaintained releases

| Package | Ubuntu Release | Status |
| --- | --- | --- |
| poppler | 17.04 zesty | Not affected |
| 16.10 yakkety | Not affected |
| 16.04 LTS xenial | Not affected |
| 15.10 wily | Not affected |
| 15.04 vivid | Not affected |
| 14.10 utopic | Not affected |
| 14.04 LTS trusty | Not in release |
| 13.10 saucy | Not affected |
| 13.04 raring | Ignored end of life |
| 12.10 quantal | Ignored end of life |
| 12.04 LTS precise | Ignored end of life |
| 10.04 LTS lucid | Ignored end of life |
| xpdf | 17.04 zesty | Not affected |
| 16.10 yakkety | Not affected |
| 16.04 LTS xenial | Not affected |
| 15.10 wily | Not affected |
| 15.04 vivid | Not affected |
| 14.10 utopic | Not affected |
| 14.04 LTS trusty | Not in release |
| 13.10 saucy | Not affected |
| 13.04 raring | Not affected |
| 12.10 quantal | Not affected |
| 12.04 LTS precise | Not affected |
| 10.04 LTS lucid | Not affected |

---

* [How can I get the fixes?](https://ubuntu.com/security/cves/about#security)
* [What do statuses mean?](https://ubuntu.com/security/cves/about#statuses)
* [Patch details](https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2012-2142?format=md#patch-details)

## Notes

---

### [jdstrand](https://launchpad.net/~jdstrand)

per Debian, xpdf not affected

---

### [mdeslaur](https://launchpad.net/~mdeslaur)

needs a backport

### Patch details

For informational purposes only. We recommend not to cherry-pick updates. [How can I get the fixes?](https://ubuntu.com/security/cves/about#security)

| Package | Patch details |
| --- | --- |
| poppler | * Upstream:   [?id=71b](http://cgit.freedesktop.org/poppler/poppler/commit/?id=71bad47ed6a36d825b0d08992c8db56845c71e40) |

## Severity score breakdown

CVSS version:
CVSS v3.0

**Base score**

7.8 · High

* Base metrics

  | Parameter | Value |
  | --- | --- |
  | Attack vector | Local |
  | Attack complexity | Low |
  | Privileges required | None |
  | User interaction | Required |
  | Scope | Unchanged |
  | Confidentiality impact | High |
  | Integrity impact | High |
  | Availability impact | High |
* Scores

  | Parameter | Value |
  | --- | --- |
  | Base score | 7.8 · High |
  | Exploitability score | - |
  | Impact score | - |

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

## References

* [MITRE](https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2012-2142)
* [NVD](https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2012-2142)
* [Launchpad](https://launchpad.net/bugs/cve/CVE-2012-2142)
* [Debian](https://security-tracker.debian.org/tracker/CVE-2012-2142)

### Other references

* <https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2012-2142>