CVE-2025-46205 is a heap-use-after-free vulnerability identified in the PdfTokenizer::ReadDictionary function of the podofo library versions 0.10.0 through 0.10.5. Podofo is an open-source PDF manipulation library used to parse and modify PDF files. The vulnerability arises when the function improperly manages memory during the parsing of PDF dictionaries, leading to a use-after-free condition on heap-allocated memory. An attacker can exploit this flaw by crafting a malicious PDF file that triggers the vulnerable code path, causing the program to access memory that has already been freed. This results in undefined behavior, typically leading to a Denial of Service (DoS) condition such as application crashes or process termination. Although no known exploits are reported in the wild, the vulnerability presents a risk to any application or system that uses the affected podofo versions to process untrusted PDF files. The lack of a CVSS score and absence of patches at the time of publication indicate that remediation may not yet be available, and users must rely on mitigations or updates from the podofo maintainers. The vulnerability does not appear to allow code execution or privilege escalation but can disrupt service availability by crashing PDF processing components.

For European organizations, the primary impact of CVE-2025-46205 is the potential disruption of services that rely on podofo for PDF processing. This includes document management systems, automated PDF generation or parsing workflows, and any software that integrates podofo for handling PDF content. A successful exploit could cause denial of service conditions, leading to application crashes, service interruptions, or degraded user experience. In sectors such as finance, legal, healthcare, and government, where PDF documents are frequently processed and exchanged, such disruptions could delay critical operations, impact compliance reporting, or reduce productivity. While the vulnerability does not directly compromise confidentiality or integrity, the availability impact could indirectly affect business continuity and operational reliability. Additionally, organizations that automatically ingest PDFs from external or untrusted sources are at higher risk. Since podofo is a niche library, the overall exposure may be limited compared to more widely used PDF libraries, but targeted attacks against specific applications using podofo remain a concern.

To mitigate this vulnerability, European organizations should first identify all software components and applications that incorporate podofo versions 0.10.0 to 0.10.5. Until an official patch is released, organizations should implement strict input validation and sandboxing for PDF files, especially those originating from untrusted or external sources. Employing application-level controls such as running PDF processing in isolated environments or containers can limit the impact of crashes. Monitoring application logs and crash reports can help detect exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider temporarily disabling or replacing podofo-based PDF processing with alternative libraries that are not vulnerable. Engaging with software vendors or open-source maintainers to prioritize patch development and timely updates is critical. Finally, educating users about the risks of opening suspicious PDF files and enforcing policies to restrict unverified document sources will reduce exposure.