Unvalidated Input Vulnerability in Gotenberg PDF Processing API
CVE-2026-42589

9.8CRITICAL

Key Information:

Vendor

Gotenberg

Status
Gotenberg
Vendor
CVE Published:
14 May 2026

What is CVE-2026-42589?

The Gotenberg API, designed for handling PDF file processing via Docker, suffers from a severe vulnerability prior to version 8.31.0. Specifically, the /forms/pdfengines/metadata/write HTTP endpoint fails to validate JSON metadata object keys before passing them to ExifTool through the go-exiftool library. This oversight allows an attacker to introduce new lines within the JSON key, resulting in command injection possibilities. By manipulating the ExifTool stdin stream, an attacker could execute arbitrary commands with potentially serious consequences, all achievable through a standard HTTP request that returns a valid PDF response. This vulnerability is addressed and mitigated in version 8.31.0.

Affected Version(s)

gotenberg < 8.31.0

References

https://github.com/gotenberg/gotenberg/security/advisorie...
x_refsource_CONFIRM

CVSS V3.1

Score:
9.8
Severity:
CRITICAL
Confidentiality:
High
Integrity:
High
Availability:
High
Attack Vector:
Network
Attack Complexity:
Low
Privileges Required:
None
User Interaction:
None
Scope:
Unchanged

Timeline

  • Vulnerability published

  • Vulnerability Reserved

.