CVE-2026-22691

pypdf has possible long runtimes for malformed startxref

Published Jan 10, 2026 CVSS 4.0 · 2.7 Low EPSS < 1% KEV · Not listed
Description
pypdf is a free and open-source pure-python PDF library. Prior to version 6.6.0, pypdf has possible long runtimes for malformed startxref. An attacker who uses this vulnerability can craft a PDF which leads to possibly long runtimes for invalid startxref entries. When rebuilding the cross-reference table, PDF files with lots of whitespace characters become problematic. Only the non-strict reading mode is affected. Only the non-strict reading mode is affected. This issue has been patched in version 6.6.0.

Remediation

No solution or workaround provided in the CVE record

Tracking

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Advisories

Source ID Title
Github GHSA Github GHSA GHSA-4f6g-68pf-7vhv pypdf has possible long runtimes for malformed startxref
History
Type Values Removed Values Added
CPEs cpe:2.3:a:pypdf_project:pypdf:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* cpe:2.3:a:py-pdf:pypdf:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
Vendors & Products Pypdf Project
Pypdf Project pypdf
Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Pypdf Project
Pypdf Project pypdf
CPEs cpe:2.3:a:pypdf_project:pypdf:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
Vendors & Products Pypdf Project
Pypdf Project pypdf
Metrics cvssV3_1

{'score': 6.5, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H'}

cvssV3_1

{'score': 5.3, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:L'}

Type Values Removed Values Added
References
Metrics threat_severity

None

cvssV3_1

{'score': 6.5, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H'}

threat_severity

Moderate

Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics ssvc

{'options': {'Automatable': 'yes', 'Exploitation': 'none', 'Technical Impact': 'partial'}, 'version': '2.0.3'}

Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Py-pdf
Py-pdf pypdf
Vendors & Products Py-pdf
Py-pdf pypdf
Type Values Removed Values Added
Description pypdf is a free and open-source pure-python PDF library. Prior to version 6.6.0, pypdf has possible long runtimes for malformed startxref. An attacker who uses this vulnerability can craft a PDF which leads to possibly long runtimes for invalid startxref entries. When rebuilding the cross-reference table, PDF files with lots of whitespace characters become problematic. Only the non-strict reading mode is affected. Only the non-strict reading mode is affected. This issue has been patched in version 6.6.0.
Title pypdf has possible long runtimes for malformed startxref
Weaknesses CWE-1333
CWE-400
References
Metrics cvssV4_0

{'score': 2.7, 'vector': 'CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:N/VI:N/VA:L/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:U'}

Weaknesses

Sources

Status
PUBLISHED
Assigner
GitHub_M
Published
Updated
Jan 12, 2026, 4:48 PM
Reserved
Jan 8, 2026, 7:23 PM
Status
Analyzed
Published
Jan 10, 2026, 5:16 AM
Modified
Nov 2, 2026, 4:06 PM
Severity
Moderate
Public date
Jan 10, 2026, 4:46 AM