CVE-2026-40505

MuPDF < 1.27 mutool ANSI Injection via Metadata

Published Apr 16, 2026 CVSS 4.0 · 4.8 Medium EPSS < 1% KEV · Not listed
Description
MuPDF before 1.27 contains an ANSI injection vulnerability in mutool that allows attackers to inject arbitrary ANSI escape sequences through crafted PDF metadata fields. Attackers can embed malicious ANSI escape codes in PDF metadata that are passed unsanitized to terminal output when running mutool info, enabling them to manipulate terminal display for social engineering attacks such as presenting fake prompts or spoofed commands.

Remediation

No solution or workaround provided in the CVE record

Tracking

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Advisories

No advisories available
History
Type Values Removed Values Added
CPEs cpe:2.3:a:artifex:mupdf:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
Type Values Removed Values Added
Description MuPDF mutool does not sanitize PDF metadata fields before writing them to terminal output, allowing attackers to inject arbitrary ANSI escape sequences through crafted PDF metadata. Attackers can embed malicious ANSI escape codes in PDF metadata that are passed unsanitized to the terminal when running mutool info, enabling them to clear the terminal display and render arbitrary text for social engineering attacks such as presenting fake prompts or spoofed commands. MuPDF before 1.27 contains an ANSI injection vulnerability in mutool that allows attackers to inject arbitrary ANSI escape sequences through crafted PDF metadata fields. Attackers can embed malicious ANSI escape codes in PDF metadata that are passed unsanitized to terminal output when running mutool info, enabling them to manipulate terminal display for social engineering attacks such as presenting fake prompts or spoofed commands.
Title MuPDF mutool ANSI Injection via Metadata MuPDF < 1.27 mutool ANSI Injection via Metadata
References
Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics ssvc

{'options': {'Automatable': 'no', 'Exploitation': 'none', 'Technical Impact': 'partial'}, 'version': '2.0.3'}

Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Artifex
Artifex mupdf
Vendors & Products Artifex
Artifex mupdf
Type Values Removed Values Added
Description MuPDF mutool does not sanitize PDF metadata fields before writing them to terminal output, allowing attackers to inject arbitrary ANSI escape sequences through crafted PDF metadata. Attackers can embed malicious ANSI escape codes in PDF metadata that are passed unsanitized to the terminal when running mutool info, enabling them to clear the terminal display and render arbitrary text for social engineering attacks such as presenting fake prompts or spoofed commands.
Title MuPDF mutool ANSI Injection via Metadata
Weaknesses CWE-150
References
Metrics cvssV3_1

{'score': 3.3, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:N'}

cvssV4_0

{'score': 4.8, 'vector': 'CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:P/VC:N/VI:L/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N'}

Weaknesses

Sources

Status
PUBLISHED
Assigner
VulnCheck
Published
Updated
Nov 8, 2026, 2:02 PM
Reserved
Apr 13, 2026, 8:29 PM
Status
Analyzed
Published
Apr 16, 2026, 2:16 AM
Modified
Oct 26, 2026, 9:10 PM