CVE-2026-40281

Critical

Description

Gotenberg is a Docker-powered stateless API for PDF files. In versions 8.30.1 and earlier, the metadata write endpoint validates metadata keys for control characters but leaves metadata values unsanitized. A newline character in a metadata value splits the ExifTool stdin line into two separate arguments, allowing injection of arbitrary ExifTool pseudo-tags such as -FileName, -Directory, -SymLink, and -HardLink. This is a bypass of the incomplete key-sanitization fix introduced in v8.30.1. An unauthenticated attacker can rename or move any PDF being processed to an arbitrary path in the container filesystem, overwrite arbitrary files, or create symlinks and hard links at arbitrary paths.

SeverityCritical
CVSS10.0
Exploit probability—
ProductThecodingmachine Gotenberg
PublishedMay 6, 2026
First seenMay 6, 2026
Weakness typeCWE-88CWE-88

How to fix

Update
  • thecodingmachine gotenberg8.31.0 or later
  • github.com/gotenberg/gotenberg/v88.31.0 or later

Affected products

ProductAffected versionsFixed in
thecodingmachine gotenbergv < 8.31.08.31.0
github.com/gotenberg/gotenberg/v8Gov < 8.31.08.31.0
github.com/gotenberg/gotenberg/v7GoNo range specified—

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