How severe is CVE-2026-40281?

CVE-2026-40281 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 10.0, rated critical severity. It is exploitable over network with low attack complexity, requires no privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is none, integrity high, and availability high.

Is CVE-2026-40281 being actively exploited?

It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 1% (45th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

What products are affected by CVE-2026-40281?

CVE-2026-40281 affects Thecodingmachine Gotenberg. See the affected-products list for the exact vulnerable versions.

How do I fix CVE-2026-40281?

Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround. Given its critical severity, prioritise patching exposed systems.

Does CVE-2026-40281 have an EU (EUVD) identifier?

Yes. CVE-2026-40281 is tracked in the ENISA EU Vulnerability Database (EUVD) as EUVD-2026-28214.

When was CVE-2026-40281 published?

CVE-2026-40281 was published on 2026-05-06 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

CVE-2026-40281

CVE-2026-40281 is a critical-severity vulnerability in Thecodingmachine Gotenberg with a CVSS 3.x base score of 10.0. It is not currently listed as actively exploited by CISA, and its EPSS exploit-prediction score is low. The underlying weakness is classified as CWE-88.

Key facts

Severity: Critical (CVSS 3.x base score 10.0)
EPSS exploit prediction: 1% (45th percentile)
Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
EU (EUVD) id: EUVD-2026-28214
Weakness: CWE-88
Affected product: Thecodingmachine Gotenberg
Published: 2026-05-06
Last modified: 2026-06-17

Description

Gotenberg is a Docker-powered stateless API for PDF files. In versions 8.30.1 and earlier, the metadata write endpoint validates metadata keys for control characters but leaves metadata values unsanitized. A newline character in a metadata value splits the ExifTool stdin line into two separate arguments, allowing injection of arbitrary ExifTool pseudo-tags such as -FileName, -Directory, -SymLink, and -HardLink. This is a bypass of the incomplete key-sanitization fix introduced in v8.30.1. An unauthenticated attacker can rename or move any PDF being processed to an arbitrary path in the container filesystem, overwrite arbitrary files, or create symlinks and hard links at arbitrary paths.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2026-40281?: Gotenberg is a Docker-powered stateless API for PDF files. In versions 8.30.1 and earlier, the metadata write endpoint validates metadata keys for control characters but leaves metadata values unsanitized. A newline character in a metadata value splits the ExifTool stdin line into two separate arguments, allowing injection of arbitrary ExifTool pseudo-tags such as -FileName, -Directory, -SymLink, and -HardLink. This is a bypass of the incomplete key-sanitization fix introduced in v8.30.1. An unauthenticated attacker can rename or move any PDF being processed to an arbitrary path in the container filesystem, overwrite arbitrary files, or create symlinks and hard links at arbitrary paths.
How severe is CVE-2026-40281?: CVE-2026-40281 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 10.0, rated critical severity. It is exploitable over network with low attack complexity, requires no privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is none, integrity high, and availability high.
Is CVE-2026-40281 being actively exploited?: It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 1% (45th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
What products are affected by CVE-2026-40281?: CVE-2026-40281 affects Thecodingmachine Gotenberg. See the affected-products list for the exact vulnerable versions.
How do I fix CVE-2026-40281?: Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround. Given its critical severity, prioritise patching exposed systems.
Does CVE-2026-40281 have an EU (EUVD) identifier?: Yes. CVE-2026-40281 is tracked in the ENISA EU Vulnerability Database (EUVD) as EUVD-2026-28214.
When was CVE-2026-40281 published?: CVE-2026-40281 was published on 2026-05-06 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

References

Affected products (1)

cpe:2.3:a:thecodingmachine:gotenberg:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

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