CVE-2026-2040 (GCVE-0-2026-2040)

Vulnerability from cvelistv5 – Published: 2026-02-20 22:21 – Updated: 2026-02-20 22:21
VLAI?
Title
PDF-XChange Editor TrackerUpdate Uncontrolled Search Path Element Local Privilege Escalation Vulnerability
Summary
PDF-XChange Editor TrackerUpdate Uncontrolled Search Path Element Local Privilege Escalation Vulnerability. This vulnerability allows local attackers to escalate privileges on affected installations of PDF-XChange Editor. An attacker must first obtain the ability to execute low-privileged code on the target system in order to exploit this vulnerability. The specific flaw exists within the TrackerUpdate process. The product loads a library from an unsecured location. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to escalate privileges and execute code in the context of a target user. Was ZDI-CAN-27788.
CWE
  • CWE-427 - Uncontrolled Search Path Element
Assigner
zdi
References
Impacted products
Show details on NVD website

{
  "containers": {
    "cna": {
      "affected": [
        {
          "defaultStatus": "unknown",
          "product": "PDF-XChange Editor",
          "vendor": "PDF-XChange",
          "versions": [
            {
              "status": "affected",
              "version": "10.7.2.400"
            }
          ]
        }
      ],
      "dateAssigned": "2026-02-06T01:13:48.624Z",
      "datePublic": "2026-02-19T14:24:40.432Z",
      "descriptions": [
        {
          "lang": "en",
          "value": "PDF-XChange Editor TrackerUpdate Uncontrolled Search Path Element Local Privilege Escalation Vulnerability. This vulnerability allows local attackers to escalate privileges on affected installations of PDF-XChange Editor. An attacker must first obtain the ability to execute low-privileged code on the target system in order to exploit this vulnerability.\n\nThe specific flaw exists within the TrackerUpdate process. The product loads a library from an unsecured location. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to escalate privileges and execute code in the context of a target user. Was ZDI-CAN-27788."
        }
      ],
      "metrics": [
        {
          "cvssV3_0": {
            "baseScore": 7.3,
            "baseSeverity": "HIGH",
            "vectorString": "CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H",
            "version": "3.0"
          },
          "format": "CVSS"
        }
      ],
      "problemTypes": [
        {
          "descriptions": [
            {
              "cweId": "CWE-427",
              "description": "CWE-427: Uncontrolled Search Path Element",
              "lang": "en",
              "type": "CWE"
            }
          ]
        }
      ],
      "providerMetadata": {
        "dateUpdated": "2026-02-20T22:21:17.790Z",
        "orgId": "99f1926a-a320-47d8-bbb5-42feb611262e",
        "shortName": "zdi"
      },
      "references": [
        {
          "name": "ZDI-26-122",
          "tags": [
            "x_research-advisory"
          ],
          "url": "https://www.zerodayinitiative.com/advisories/ZDI-26-122/"
        }
      ],
      "source": {
        "lang": "en",
        "value": "Kolja Grassmann (Neodyme AG)"
      },
      "title": "PDF-XChange Editor TrackerUpdate Uncontrolled Search Path Element Local Privilege Escalation Vulnerability"
    }
  },
  "cveMetadata": {
    "assignerOrgId": "99f1926a-a320-47d8-bbb5-42feb611262e",
    "assignerShortName": "zdi",
    "cveId": "CVE-2026-2040",
    "datePublished": "2026-02-20T22:21:17.790Z",
    "dateReserved": "2026-02-06T01:13:48.593Z",
    "dateUpdated": "2026-02-20T22:21:17.790Z",
    "state": "PUBLISHED"
  },
  "dataType": "CVE_RECORD",
  "dataVersion": "5.2",
  "vulnerability-lookup:meta": {
    "nvd": "{\"cve\":{\"id\":\"CVE-2026-2040\",\"sourceIdentifier\":\"zdi-disclosures@trendmicro.com\",\"published\":\"2026-02-20T23:16:04.050\",\"lastModified\":\"2026-02-23T18:13:53.397\",\"vulnStatus\":\"Awaiting Analysis\",\"cveTags\":[],\"descriptions\":[{\"lang\":\"en\",\"value\":\"PDF-XChange Editor TrackerUpdate Uncontrolled Search Path Element Local Privilege Escalation Vulnerability. This vulnerability allows local attackers to escalate privileges on affected installations of PDF-XChange Editor. An attacker must first obtain the ability to execute low-privileged code on the target system in order to exploit this vulnerability.\\n\\nThe specific flaw exists within the TrackerUpdate process. The product loads a library from an unsecured location. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to escalate privileges and execute code in the context of a target user. Was ZDI-CAN-27788.\"}],\"metrics\":{\"cvssMetricV30\":[{\"source\":\"zdi-disclosures@trendmicro.com\",\"type\":\"Secondary\",\"cvssData\":{\"version\":\"3.0\",\"vectorString\":\"CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H\",\"baseScore\":7.3,\"baseSeverity\":\"HIGH\",\"attackVector\":\"LOCAL\",\"attackComplexity\":\"LOW\",\"privilegesRequired\":\"LOW\",\"userInteraction\":\"REQUIRED\",\"scope\":\"UNCHANGED\",\"confidentialityImpact\":\"HIGH\",\"integrityImpact\":\"HIGH\",\"availabilityImpact\":\"HIGH\"},\"exploitabilityScore\":1.3,\"impactScore\":5.9}]},\"weaknesses\":[{\"source\":\"zdi-disclosures@trendmicro.com\",\"type\":\"Primary\",\"description\":[{\"lang\":\"en\",\"value\":\"CWE-427\"}]}],\"references\":[{\"url\":\"https://www.zerodayinitiative.com/advisories/ZDI-26-122/\",\"source\":\"zdi-disclosures@trendmicro.com\"}]}}"
  }
}


Log in or create an account to share your comment.




Tags
Taxonomy of the tags.


Loading…

Loading…

Loading…

Sightings

Author Source Type Date

Nomenclature

  • Seen: The vulnerability was mentioned, discussed, or observed by the user.
  • Confirmed: The vulnerability has been validated from an analyst's perspective.
  • Published Proof of Concept: A public proof of concept is available for this vulnerability.
  • Exploited: The vulnerability was observed as exploited by the user who reported the sighting.
  • Patched: The vulnerability was observed as successfully patched by the user who reported the sighting.
  • Not exploited: The vulnerability was not observed as exploited by the user who reported the sighting.
  • Not confirmed: The user expressed doubt about the validity of the vulnerability.
  • Not patched: The vulnerability was not observed as successfully patched by the user who reported the sighting.


Loading…

Detection rules are retrieved from Rulezet.

Loading…

Loading…