CVE-2025-14415: Soda PDF Desktop RCE Vulnerability

CVE-2025-14415 Overview

CVE-2025-14415 is a remote code execution vulnerability in Soda PDF Desktop. The flaw exists in the implementation of the PDF Launch action and allows execution of dangerous scripts without presenting a user warning. Attackers can leverage this issue to execute arbitrary code in the context of the current user.

Exploitation requires user interaction. The target must open a malicious PDF file or visit a page that delivers one. The vulnerability was reported through the Zero Day Initiative as ZDI-CAN-27494 and is tracked under [CWE-356] (Product UI does not Warn User of Unsafe Actions).

Critical Impact
A crafted PDF can silently launch attacker-controlled scripts in Soda PDF Desktop, leading to arbitrary code execution with the privileges of the logged-in user.

Affected Products

Soda PDF Desktop version 14.0.509.23030
Earlier Soda PDF Desktop builds implementing the same Launch action handler
Workstations where Soda PDF Desktop is the default PDF handler

Discovery Timeline

2025-12-23 - CVE-2025-14415 published to NVD
2026-01-21 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-14415

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability resides in how Soda PDF Desktop processes the PDF Launch action. The PDF specification defines the Launch action to start an application or open a document referenced from within the PDF. Compliant readers must warn the user before executing such actions because the referenced target can be arbitrary code.

Soda PDF Desktop fails to display this warning before executing scripts referenced by the Launch action. The application treats the embedded reference as trusted and proceeds with execution. This behavior maps to [CWE-356]: insufficient UI warning of dangerous operations.

The attack requires local execution context but originates from a remote source. An attacker delivers a malicious PDF through email, web download, or shared storage. When the user opens the document in Soda PDF Desktop, the embedded Launch action triggers execution without prompting the user. Code runs with the privileges of the current user, providing a foothold for credential theft, persistence, or lateral movement.

EPSS data places the exploitation probability at 0.209% as of the latest scoring. No public proof-of-concept code or in-the-wild exploitation has been observed.

Root Cause

The root cause is the absence of a user confirmation dialog before invoking the Launch action handler. The parser accepts scripted or executable references inside the action dictionary and dispatches them directly to the operating system shell or interpreter.

Attack Vector

An attacker crafts a PDF that includes a Launch action pointing to an attacker-controlled script or binary. The payload may be embedded as an attachment or referenced by a relative path. After social engineering the victim into opening the file, the malicious payload executes without warning.

No verified public exploit code is available. See the Zero Day Initiative Advisory ZDI-25-1088 for additional technical context.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-14415

Indicators of Compromise

Soda PDF Desktop process (SodaPDFDesktop.exe) spawning child processes such as cmd.exe, powershell.exe, wscript.exe, or cscript.exe
PDF files containing /S /Launch action dictionaries referencing executable or script paths
Outbound network connections initiated by processes started as children of Soda PDF Desktop
Unexpected files written to %TEMP%, %APPDATA%, or user profile directories immediately after a PDF is opened

Detection Strategies

Hunt for parent-child process relationships where Soda PDF spawns shell interpreters or LOLBins
Inspect PDF samples for /Launch action entries and embedded file streams using static analysis tools
Correlate PDF open events with subsequent process creation and file write events within a short time window

Monitoring Recommendations

Enable command-line auditing and process creation logging (Event ID 4688) on endpoints running Soda PDF
Forward endpoint telemetry to a centralized analytics platform such as Singularity Data Lake for cross-host correlation
Use Singularity Endpoint behavioral AI to flag PDF reader processes that initiate code execution chains without user-driven prompts

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-14415

Immediate Actions Required

Inventory all endpoints running Soda PDF Desktop and prioritize version 14.0.509.23030 for remediation
Restrict opening PDF files from untrusted sources, including email attachments and external downloads
Change the default PDF handler to a reader that prompts on Launch actions until a patch is applied
Apply application allowlisting to block child processes spawned by Soda PDF Desktop

Patch Information

Review the Zero Day Initiative Advisory ZDI-25-1088 for vendor patch status. At publication, no vendor advisory URL is listed in the NVD record. Administrators should monitor Soda PDF release notes and update to a fixed build as soon as one is available.

Workarounds

Disable or remove Soda PDF Desktop on systems that handle untrusted documents
Open suspicious PDFs in a sandboxed virtual machine or isolated browser-based viewer
Deploy attack surface reduction rules that block Office and PDF applications from creating child processes

bash

# Example: block Soda PDF Desktop from launching common script interpreters via Windows Defender ASR
Add-MpPreference -AttackSurfaceReductionRules_Ids D4F940AB-401B-4EFC-AADC-AD5F3C50688A -AttackSurfaceReductionRules_Actions Enabled