CVE-2021-3838
9.8 · CRITICALOverview
CVE-2021-3838 is a critical-severity vulnerability affecting dompdf_project dompdf. It was published on November 15, 2024 and has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 9.8 (CRITICAL).
This vulnerability has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 9.8, rated CRITICAL. It can be exploited remotely over the network. No authentication or special privileges are required for exploitation.
Technical Description
DomPDF before version 2.0.0 is vulnerable to PHAR deserialization due to a lack of checking on the protocol before passing it into the file_get_contents() function. An attacker who can upload files of any type to the server can pass in the phar:// protocol to unserialize the uploaded file and instantiate arbitrary PHP objects. This can lead to remote code execution, especially when DOMPdf is used with frameworks with documented POP chains like Laravel or vulnerable developer code.
Remediation
Check the references section for vendor advisories and patches from dompdf_project. Update dompdf to the latest patched version. If immediate patching is not possible, review the CVSS vector to understand the attack surface and apply compensating controls such as network segmentation or access restrictions.
Affected Products
| Vendor | Product | Versions | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| dompdf_project | dompdf | >= 0, < 2.0.0 | Affected |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is CVE-2021-3838?
CVE-2021-3838 is a critical-severity vulnerability affecting dompdf_project dompdf. It was published on November 15, 2024 and has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 9.8 (CRITICAL).
How severe is CVE-2021-3838?
This vulnerability has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 9.8, rated CRITICAL. It can be exploited remotely over the network. No authentication or special privileges are required for exploitation.
How do I fix or remediate CVE-2021-3838?
Check the references section for vendor advisories and patches from dompdf_project. Update dompdf to the latest patched version. If immediate patching is not possible, review the CVSS vector to understand the attack surface and apply compensating controls such as network segmentation or access restrictions.
How can CyberStrike help with CVE-2021-3838?
CyberStrike's AI-powered security agents can automatically detect CVE-2021-3838 across your infrastructure using autonomous pentesting, DAST scanning, and HackBrowser. The platform continuously monitors for known vulnerabilities and provides actionable remediation guidance prioritized by real-world exploitability.
How CyberStrike Helps
AI agents map your attack surface to find vulnerabilities like this one.
Automated penetration testing that runs continuously, not just quarterly.
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Browser-based exploitation validates findings with real proof-of-concept.
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