PDF corrupted and can't repaired

hack3rcon · 09-19-2015, 05:45 AM

Hello.
I have a PDF that just Show in Chromium browser and I can't open it in "Document Viewer" and other tools.
I used "pdftk" for repair it but :

$ pdftk test.pdf output a.pdf
Error: Failed to open PDF file:
test.pdf
Errors encountered. No output created.
Done. Input errors, so no output created.

any idea?

wpeckham · 09-19-2015, 05:51 AM

what does "file test.pdf" report about the file?

Do you know what generated the file, where it came from?

hack3rcon · 09-19-2015, 07:16 AM

$ file test.pdf
test.pdf: PDF document, version 1.6

I download it from my email.

wpeckham · 09-19-2015, 09:05 PM

I would worry about any PDF from an email that does not open in a standard pdf tool, it may have been infected. Most likely with a Windows threat, but you never know.

hack3rcon · 09-20-2015, 04:34 AM

I scanned it via "VirusTotal" and it is not infected.

wpeckham · 09-20-2015, 06:16 AM

Your pdftk command line looks correct.
Check the permissions on test.pdf and make sure it is readable and in the current folder.
If all else fails, request that the sender supply another copy. Perhaps a compressed copy, zip and 7z files lend themselves to certain kinds of checking and might avoid whatever is rendering the file unusable.

hack3rcon · 09-20-2015, 06:32 AM

permission :

$ls -l
total 5148
-rwxrwxrwx 1 jason jason 5267456 Sep 19 14:38 test.pdf

wpeckham · 09-20-2015, 06:50 AM

Permissions wide open. I would actually change them from 777 to 644, no need to write or execute a PDF.

Have you tried to read this with any other software?

hack3rcon · 09-21-2015, 05:25 AM

Not matter

I opened it to Gimp and other viewer but....

wpeckham · 09-21-2015, 09:31 PM

Is it possible that this pdf was created with encryption or some of the advanced Adobe security features?
I have seen PDF e-books that most non-adobe software will NOT read, and that expires and becomes unreadable after a given date. My library uses that trick to lend e-books that do not violate their publisher agreements.

I never liked the idea of files that expire, so I have not investigated and cannot advise if it is that kind of format.