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Vulnerability record · CVE-2026-40281 · published 6 May 2026

CVE-2026-40281: Thecodingmachine gotenberg argument injection vulnerability

Thecodingmachine · Gotenberg

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.

9.1 CVSS 3.1 Critical EPSS 0.66% · top 50.6% CWE-88 · Argument injection
9.1CVSS 3.1 base score
0.66%EPSS exploitation probability, 30 days
NoNot in CISA KEV
1Affected product versions listed by NVD
3References, 2 tagged exploit
17 Jun 2026Last modified by NVD

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.

CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:H

Affected products

1 vulnerable configurations from NVD's CPE data, grouped by vendor and product.

References

LinkTags
https://github.com/gotenberg/gotenberg/commit/405f1069c026bb08f319fb5a44e5c67c33208318 Patch
https://github.com/gotenberg/gotenberg/security/advisories/GHSA-q7r4-hc83-hf2q ExploitPatchVendor Advisory
https://github.com/gotenberg/gotenberg/security/advisories/GHSA-q7r4-hc83-hf2q ExploitPatchVendor Advisory

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Related vulnerabilities

Same products first, then exploited flaws of the same weakness class.

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Source: NIST National Vulnerability Database (record CVE-2026-40281), CISA KEV, FIRST EPSS (scores of 2026-09-27). This page is refreshed as NVD updates the record.