CVE-2026-40281
10.0 · CRITICALOverview
CVE-2026-40281 is a critical-severity vulnerability affecting thecodingmachine gotenberg. It was published on May 6, 2026 and has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 10.0 (CRITICAL).
This vulnerability has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 10.0, rated CRITICAL. It can be exploited remotely over the network. No authentication or special privileges are required for exploitation.
Technical 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.
Remediation
Check the references section for vendor advisories and patches from thecodingmachine. Update gotenberg to the latest patched version. If immediate patching is not possible, review the CVSS vector to understand the attack surface and apply compensating controls such as network segmentation or access restrictions.
Affected Products
| Vendor | Product | Versions | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| thecodingmachine | gotenberg | >= 0, < 8.31.0 | Affected |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is CVE-2026-40281?
CVE-2026-40281 is a critical-severity vulnerability affecting thecodingmachine gotenberg. It was published on May 6, 2026 and has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 10.0 (CRITICAL).
How severe is CVE-2026-40281?
This vulnerability has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 10.0, rated CRITICAL. It can be exploited remotely over the network. No authentication or special privileges are required for exploitation.
How do I fix or remediate CVE-2026-40281?
Check the references section for vendor advisories and patches from thecodingmachine. Update gotenberg to the latest patched version. If immediate patching is not possible, review the CVSS vector to understand the attack surface and apply compensating controls such as network segmentation or access restrictions.
How can CyberStrike help with CVE-2026-40281?
CyberStrike's AI-powered security agents can automatically detect CVE-2026-40281 across your infrastructure using autonomous pentesting, DAST scanning, and HackBrowser. The platform continuously monitors for known vulnerabilities and provides actionable remediation guidance prioritized by real-world exploitability.
How CyberStrike Helps
AI agents map your attack surface to find vulnerabilities like this one.
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