ZDI-26-360: MATE Desktop Atril Document Viewer EPUB File Parsing Heap-based Buffer Overflow Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
This vulnerability allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected installations of MATE Desktop Atril Document Viewer. User interaction is required to exploit this vulnerability in that the target must visit a malicious page or open a malicious file. The ZDI has assigned a CVSS rating of 7.8. The following CVEs are assigned: CVE-2026-52849.
AI Analysis
Technical Summary
CVE-2026-52849 is a heap-based buffer overflow vulnerability in the MATE Desktop Atril Document Viewer affecting the parsing of XML attributes within EPUB files. The vulnerability occurs due to insufficient validation of user-supplied data length before copying to a heap buffer. Exploitation requires user interaction, such as opening a crafted EPUB file or visiting a malicious page, allowing remote code execution in the context of the current process. The vulnerability has a CVSS score of 7.8 (AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H). It was reported to the vendor on 2026-05-20 and publicly disclosed on 2026-06-11. Fixes are available in versions 1.26.4 and 1.28.6.
Potential Impact
Successful exploitation allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the user running Atril Document Viewer. This can lead to full compromise of the affected system's user context. The vulnerability affects confidentiality, integrity, and availability (high impact on all three).
Mitigation Recommendations
Apply the official fixes by upgrading Atril Document Viewer to version 1.26.4 or later, or 1.28.6 or later. These versions contain patches that address the heap-based buffer overflow vulnerability. No other mitigation is required as the vulnerability is fixed in these releases.
ZDI-26-360: MATE Desktop Atril Document Viewer EPUB File Parsing Heap-based Buffer Overflow Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
Description
This vulnerability allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected installations of MATE Desktop Atril Document Viewer. User interaction is required to exploit this vulnerability in that the target must visit a malicious page or open a malicious file. The ZDI has assigned a CVSS rating of 7.8. The following CVEs are assigned: CVE-2026-52849.
Affected software
AI-Powered Analysis
Machine-generated threat intelligence
Technical Analysis
CVE-2026-52849 is a heap-based buffer overflow vulnerability in the MATE Desktop Atril Document Viewer affecting the parsing of XML attributes within EPUB files. The vulnerability occurs due to insufficient validation of user-supplied data length before copying to a heap buffer. Exploitation requires user interaction, such as opening a crafted EPUB file or visiting a malicious page, allowing remote code execution in the context of the current process. The vulnerability has a CVSS score of 7.8 (AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H). It was reported to the vendor on 2026-05-20 and publicly disclosed on 2026-06-11. Fixes are available in versions 1.26.4 and 1.28.6.
Potential Impact
Successful exploitation allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the user running Atril Document Viewer. This can lead to full compromise of the affected system's user context. The vulnerability affects confidentiality, integrity, and availability (high impact on all three).
Mitigation Recommendations
Apply the official fixes by upgrading Atril Document Viewer to version 1.26.4 or later, or 1.28.6 or later. These versions contain patches that address the heap-based buffer overflow vulnerability. No other mitigation is required as the vulnerability is fixed in these releases.
Threat ID: 6a2bf5b8e617e2d834649417
Added to database: 06/12/2026, 12:04:08 UTC
Last enriched: 07/06/2026, 00:43:33 UTC
Last updated: 07/18/2026, 22:02:09 UTC
Views: 172
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