CVE-2023-26155Public exploitNetwork attack vector

Command execution via shell-interpreted PDF path

Published Oct 14, 2023 · Updated Sep 17, 2024

Command injection in node-qpdf 1.0.3 and earlier allows attackers to execute shell commands through a crafted input PDF path. The encrypt() method appends the input path to an argument array, then executeCommand() joins that array into a /bin/sh -c command without shell escaping when PDF output is streamed. An application must pass attacker-controlled input to encrypt() without an output file on a non-Windows host; injected commands run with that process's privileges.

CVSS severity7.3
High
EPSS probability2.08%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Command injection in node-qpdf 1.0.3 and earlier allows attackers to execute shell commands through a crafted input PDF path. The encrypt() method appends the input path to an argument array, then executeCommand() joins that array into a /bin/sh -c command without shell escaping when PDF output is streamed. An application must pass attacker-controlled input to encrypt() without an output file on a non-Windows host; injected commands run with that process's privileges.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-26155
Published
Oct 14, 2023
Updated
Sep 17, 2024
Vendor
Nishit Hirani
Product
node-qpdf
Classifications
CWE-78, CWE-77, T1059.004
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Oct 14, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Sep 17, 2024Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=0 <*

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Nishit Hirani · node-qpdfversion=0 <*

Published CVSS scores

7.3SnykCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L
9.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

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.

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No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-78Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection')
CWE-77Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in a Command ('Command Injection')
T1059.004Command and Scripting Interpreter: Unix Shell

Public exploit references

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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