CVE-2026-16770Public exploitNetwork attack vector

File read and write via injected renderer options

Published Aug 12, 2026 · Updated Aug 12, 2026

Argument injection in PDF::WebKit 1.2 and earlier allows remote attackers to control wkhtmltopdf options through crafted HTML meta tags. The _pdf_webkit_meta_tags routine converts each pdf-webkit key and unchanged value into command-line arguments without an allowlist, and BUILD merges them after application options. Exploitation requires an HTML string or file, XML::LibXML, and a caller that renders untrusted content; injected switches can read local files into the PDF or write to a chosen path.

CVSS severity9.8
Critical
EPSS probability0.43%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Argument injection in PDF::WebKit 1.2 and earlier allows remote attackers to control wkhtmltopdf options through crafted HTML meta tags. The _pdf_webkit_meta_tags routine converts each pdf-webkit key and unchanged value into command-line arguments without an allowlist, and BUILD merges them after application options. Exploitation requires an HTML string or file, XML::LibXML, and a caller that renders untrusted content; injected switches can read local files into the PDF or write to a chosen path.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-16770
Published
Aug 12, 2026
Updated
Aug 12, 2026
Vendor
Christian Walde
Product
PDF::WebKit
Classifications
CWE-88, T1005
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Aug 12, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 12, 2026Record 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 <=1.2

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Christian Walde · PDF::WebKitversion=0 <=1.2

Published CVSS scores

9.8CISA-ADPCVSS: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-88Improper Neutralization of Argument Delimiters in a Command ('Argument Injection')
T1005Data from Local System

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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