CVE-2026-42589
CVE-2026-42589 is a critical-severity vulnerability in Thecodingmachine Gotenberg with a CVSS 3.x base score of 9.8. 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-78.
Key facts
- Severity: Critical (CVSS 3.x base score 9.8)
- EPSS exploit prediction: 3% (86th percentile)
- Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
- EU (EUVD) id: EUVD-2026-30311
- Weakness: CWE-78
- Affected product: Thecodingmachine Gotenberg
- Published:
- Last modified:
Description
Gotenberg is a Docker-powered stateless API for PDF files. Prior to 8.31.0, Gotenberg's /forms/pdfengines/metadata/write HTTP endpoint accepts a JSON metadata object and passes its keys directly to ExifTool via the go-exiftool library. No validation is performed on key characters. A \n embedded in a JSON key splits the ExifTool stdin stream into a new argument line, allowing an attacker to inject arbitrary ExifTool flags — including -if, which evaluates Perl expressions. This achieves unauthenticated OS command execution in a single HTTP request. The response is HTTP 200 with a valid PDF, making the attack transparent to basic monitoring. This vulnerability is fixed in 8.31.0.
Frequently asked questions
- What is CVE-2026-42589?
- Gotenberg is a Docker-powered stateless API for PDF files. Prior to 8.31.0, Gotenberg's /forms/pdfengines/metadata/write HTTP endpoint accepts a JSON metadata object and passes its keys directly to ExifTool via the go-exiftool library. No validation is performed on key characters. A \n embedded in a JSON key splits the ExifTool stdin stream into a new argument line, allowing an attacker to inject arbitrary ExifTool flags — including -if, which evaluates Perl expressions. This achieves unauthenticated OS command execution in a single HTTP request. The response is HTTP 200 with a valid PDF, making the attack transparent to basic monitoring. This vulnerability is fixed in 8.31.0.
- How severe is CVE-2026-42589?
- CVE-2026-42589 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 9.8, rated critical severity. It is exploitable over network with low attack complexity, requires no privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is high, integrity high, and availability high.
- Is CVE-2026-42589 being actively exploited?
- It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 3% (86th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
- What products are affected by CVE-2026-42589?
- CVE-2026-42589 affects Thecodingmachine Gotenberg. See the affected-products list for the exact vulnerable versions.
- How do I fix CVE-2026-42589?
- 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-2026-42589 have an EU (EUVD) identifier?
- Yes. CVE-2026-42589 is tracked in the ENISA EU Vulnerability Database (EUVD) as EUVD-2026-30311.
- When was CVE-2026-42589 published?
- CVE-2026-42589 was published on 2026-05-14 and last updated on 2026-06-17.
References
Affected products (1)
- cpe:2.3:a:thecodingmachine:gotenberg:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
More vulnerabilities in Thecodingmachine Gotenberg
- CVE-2026-40281 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): Gotenberg is a Docker-powered stateless API for PDF files. In versions 8.30.1 and earlier, the metadata write endpoint…
- CVE-2026-35458 — Critical (CVSS 9.8): Gotenberg is an API for converting document formats. In 8.29.1 and earlier, Gotenberg uses dlclark/regexp2 to compile…
- CVE-2020-13452 — Critical (CVSS 9.8): In Gotenberg through 6.2.1, insecure permissions for tini (writable by user gotenberg) potentially allow an attacker to…
- CVE-2020-13451 — Critical (CVSS 9.8): An incomplete-cleanup vulnerability in the Office rendering engine of Gotenberg through 6.2.1 allows an attacker to…
- CVE-2020-13450 — Critical (CVSS 9.8): A directory traversal vulnerability in file upload function of Gotenberg through 6.2.1 allows an attacker to upload and…
- CVE-2026-42596 — Critical (CVSS 9.4): Gotenberg is a Docker-powered stateless API for PDF files. Prior to 8.31.0, the default deny-lists used by Gotenberg's…
All CVEs affecting Thecodingmachine Gotenberg →
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