CVE-2024-6239 is a vulnerability identified in the Poppler library's Pdfinfo utility, specifically version 24.06.0. The flaw arises from improper input validation when the utility is invoked with the -dests parameter. Poppler is a widely used open-source PDF rendering and analysis library, and Pdfinfo is a command-line tool that extracts metadata and structural information from PDF files. The vulnerability allows an attacker to craft a malformed PDF file that, when processed by Pdfinfo with the -dests option, causes the utility to crash. This crash results in a denial of service condition, disrupting any automated workflows or services relying on Pdfinfo for PDF metadata extraction. The CVSS 3.1 base score is 7.5, reflecting a high severity due to the vulnerability's network attack vector (AV:N), low attack complexity (AC:L), no privileges required (PR:N), and no user interaction (UI:N). The impact is limited to availability (A:H), with no confidentiality or integrity effects. No known exploits have been reported in the wild, but the vulnerability poses a risk to systems that process untrusted PDF files, especially in automated or batch processing environments. The lack of authentication and user interaction requirements increases the risk of exploitation. The vulnerability was publicly disclosed on June 21, 2024, and no official patches have been linked yet, though updates from Poppler or Linux distributions are expected. Organizations using Poppler Pdfinfo in document processing pipelines should prioritize mitigation to prevent service disruption.

For European organizations, the primary impact of CVE-2024-6239 is the potential denial of service in systems that utilize Poppler's Pdfinfo utility for PDF metadata extraction or document analysis. This can affect document management systems, automated PDF processing workflows, and any service relying on Pdfinfo to parse PDF files, potentially causing downtime or degraded service availability. Industries such as finance, legal, publishing, and government agencies that handle large volumes of PDF documents are particularly vulnerable. The disruption could lead to operational delays, loss of productivity, and increased support costs. Although the vulnerability does not compromise data confidentiality or integrity, the availability impact can indirectly affect business continuity and service reliability. Additionally, if exploited as part of a larger attack chain, the DoS could be used as a distraction or to degrade defenses. Given the widespread use of open-source PDF tools in European IT environments, the scope of affected systems is broad, especially in organizations leveraging Linux-based infrastructure.

To mitigate CVE-2024-6239, organizations should: 1) Monitor for and apply official patches or updates from the Poppler project or Linux distribution vendors as soon as they become available. 2) Implement input validation and sanitization controls to ensure that only trusted or verified PDF files are processed by Pdfinfo, especially when using the -dests parameter. 3) Employ sandboxing or containerization techniques to isolate the Pdfinfo utility, limiting the impact of any crashes on the broader system. 4) Consider disabling or restricting the use of the -dests parameter if it is not essential to operations. 5) Incorporate PDF file scanning and filtering at the perimeter to block malformed or suspicious PDF files before they reach internal processing systems. 6) Monitor logs and system behavior for signs of crashes or unusual activity related to Pdfinfo usage. 7) Develop incident response plans to quickly recover from potential DoS events caused by this vulnerability. These steps go beyond generic advice by focusing on controlling input, isolating vulnerable components, and operational readiness.