File creation via injected Ghostscript parameters
Published Dec 15, 2021 · Updated Feb 25, 2026
Command injection in iText 5 before 5.5.13.3 and iText 7 before 7.1.17 allows attackers to inject Ghostscript options via filenames. GhostscriptHelper inserts the CompareTool filename into the gs argument string without neutralizing quote and option delimiters, so the filename becomes additional Ghostscript parameters. An application must pass an attacker-controlled filename to CompareTool; the published proof of concept demonstrates file creation under the host process account.
Summary
What happened
Command injection in iText 5 before 5.5.13.3 and iText 7 before 7.1.17 allows attackers to inject Ghostscript options via filenames. GhostscriptHelper inserts the CompareTool filename into the gs argument string without neutralizing quote and option delimiters, so the filename becomes additional Ghostscript parameters. An application must pass an attacker-controlled filename to CompareTool; the published proof of concept demonstrates file creation under the host process account.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2021-43113
- Published
- Dec 15, 2021
- Updated
- Feb 25, 2026
- Vendor
- Unknown vendor
- Product
- Unknown product
- Classifications
- CWE-77, T1059
- Attack vector
- network
- Privileges
- unauthenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Dec 15, 2021CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Feb 25, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.
Exploitability
Present is not the same as exploitable
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What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Affected products and versions are unavailable in this record.
Published CVSS scores
CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.
Attacks
What attackers are doing with it
Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.
Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
- iTextPDF7 Parameter Injection PoCproof of concept · demonstrated
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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