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.
Affected products
thecodingmachine: gotenberg
References3
- github.com/gotenberg/gotenberg/security/advisories/GHSA-q7r4-hc… ExploitPatchVendor Advisory
- github.com/gotenberg/gotenberg/security/advisories/GHSA-q7r4-hc… ExploitPatchVendor Advisory
- github.com/gotenberg/gotenberg/commit/405f1069c026bb08f319fb5a4… Patch
Metrics
- CVSS 3.1
-
9.1
CRITICAL
Score source: NVD
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:H - EPSS — exploit probability
- 2% percentile: 83 · as of 13 November 2026
- CWE
- CWE-88
Could this be exploited in your environment?
A patch closes the known hole. A penetration test shows what an attacker can still reach — with proof.