File write via separator-blind directory prefix check
Published Apr 14, 2026 · Updated Apr 14, 2026
Path traversal in Apache PDFBox Examples 2.0.24 through 2.0.36 and 3.0.0 through 3.0.7 allows attackers to write outside the extraction directory. ExtractEmbeddedFiles accepts a crafted embedded filename when the canonical parent merely starts with the output directory string, without requiring a path-separator boundary. Exploitation requires processing a malicious PDF with the example or copied code and permits writes only to filesystem paths sharing that prefix and writable by the process.
Summary
What happened
Path traversal in Apache PDFBox Examples 2.0.24 through 2.0.36 and 3.0.0 through 3.0.7 allows attackers to write outside the extraction directory. ExtractEmbeddedFiles accepts a crafted embedded filename when the canonical parent merely starts with the output directory string, without requiring a path-separator boundary. Exploitation requires processing a malicious PDF with the example or copied code and permits writes only to filesystem paths sharing that prefix and writable by the process.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2026-33929
- Published
- Apr 14, 2026
- Updated
- Apr 14, 2026
- Vendor
- The Apache Software Foundation
- Product
- Apache PDFBox Examples
- Classifications
- CWE-22, CAPEC-126, T1204.002
- Attack vector
- network
- Privileges
- authenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Apr 14, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Apr 14, 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.
- Affected versionversion=2.0.24 <=2.0.36
- Affected versionversion=3.0.0 <=3.0.7
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
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Attacks
What attackers are doing with it
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Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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