CVE-2026-42590

Description

Gotenberg is a Docker-powered stateless API for PDF files. Prior to 8.30.0, The ExifTool metadata write blocklist in Gotenberg can be bypassed using ExifTool's group-prefix syntax, enabling arbitrary file rename, move, hardlink, and symlink creation on the server. ExifTool supports group-prefix syntax where File:FileName is processed identically to FileName -- the prefix is stripped by SetNewValue in Writer.pl before tag matching. The safeKeyPattern regex (^[a-zA-Z0-9\-_.:]+$) allows colons, so prefixed tag names pass validation. Any prefix works: File:FileName, System:Directory, a:HardLink, etc. Additionally, FilePermissions, FileUserID, and FileGroupID pseudo-tags are not blocked at all and can modify file attributes without any prefix. This vulnerability is fixed in 8.30.0.

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CVSS v3.1 Score

8.2

HIGH

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

EPSS — Exploit Prediction

0.0007

Probability of exploitation

0.22%

Percentile rank

EPSS estimates the probability that this vulnerability will be exploited in the wild within the next 30 days. A higher score means more likely to be exploited.

Weakness Type (CWE)

CWE-184 CWE-184

Affected Products

Vendor	Product	Versions
thecodingmachine	gotenberg	< 8.30.0

References

Advisories & Patches

https://github.com/gotenberg/gotenberg/security/advisories/GHSA-7v3r-m9c8-r855 https://github.com/gotenberg/gotenberg/security/advisories/GHSA-7v3r-m9c8-r855

Exploits

https://github.com/gotenberg/gotenberg/security/advisories/GHSA-7v3r-m9c8-r855 https://github.com/gotenberg/gotenberg/security/advisories/GHSA-7v3r-m9c8-r855

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2026-42590? +

Gotenberg is a Docker-powered stateless API for PDF files. Prior to 8.30.0, The ExifTool metadata write blocklist in Gotenberg can be bypassed using ExifTool's group-prefix syntax, enabling arbitrary file rename, move, hardlink, and symlink creation on the server. ExifTool supports group-prefix syntax where File:FileName is processed identically to FileName -- the prefix is stripped by SetNewValue in Writer.pl before tag matching. The safeKeyPattern regex (^[a-zA-Z0-9\-_.:]+$) allows colons, so prefixed tag names pass validation. Any prefix works: File:FileName, System:Directory, a:HardLink, etc. Additionally, FilePermissions, FileUserID, and FileGroupID pseudo-tags are not blocked at all and can modify file attributes without any prefix. This vulnerability is fixed in 8.30.0. It has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 8.2 (HIGH).

How severe is CVE-2026-42590? +

CVE-2026-42590 has a CVSS v3.1 score of 8.2 out of 10, rated HIGH. This is a high-severity vulnerability that should be prioritized for patching. The EPSS score is 0.0007, placing it in the 0th percentile for exploitation probability.

What products are affected by CVE-2026-42590? +

CVE-2026-42590 affects products from thecodingmachine, specifically: gotenberg. Check the affected products table above for specific version ranges.

How do I check if I'm vulnerable to CVE-2026-42590? +

You can use Secably's free Website Scanner to check your website for known vulnerabilities. For infrastructure scanning, use the Port Scanner to identify exposed services that may be affected. Check the vendor advisories linked above for specific patch and version information.

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