CVE-2026-42590

Gotenberg: ExifTool group-prefix syntax bypasses dangerous-tag blocklist

Published May 14, 2026 CVSS 3.1 · 8.2 High EPSS < 1% KEV · Not listed
Description
Gotenberg is a Docker-powered stateless API for PDF files. Prior to 8.30.0, The ExifTool metadata write blocklist in Gotenberg can be bypassed using ExifTool's group-prefix syntax, enabling arbitrary file rename, move, hardlink, and symlink creation on the server. ExifTool supports group-prefix syntax where File:FileName is processed identically to FileName -- the prefix is stripped by SetNewValue in Writer.pl before tag matching. The safeKeyPattern regex (^[a-zA-Z0-9\-_.:]+$) allows colons, so prefixed tag names pass validation. Any prefix works: File:FileName, System:Directory, a:HardLink, etc. Additionally, FilePermissions, FileUserID, and FileGroupID pseudo-tags are not blocked at all and can modify file attributes without any prefix. This vulnerability is fixed in 8.30.0.

Remediation

No solution or workaround provided in the CVE record

Tracking

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Advisories

Source ID Title
Github GHSA Github GHSA GHSA-7v3r-m9c8-r855 Gotenberg's ExifTool group-prefix syntax bypasses dangerous-tag blocklist
History
Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Thecodingmachine
Thecodingmachine gotenberg
CPEs cpe:2.3:a:thecodingmachine:gotenberg:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
Vendors & Products Thecodingmachine
Thecodingmachine gotenberg
Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics ssvc

{'options': {'Automatable': 'yes', 'Exploitation': 'poc', 'Technical Impact': 'partial'}, 'version': '2.0.3'}

Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Gotenberg
Gotenberg gotenberg
Vendors & Products Gotenberg
Gotenberg gotenberg
Type Values Removed Values Added
Description Gotenberg is a Docker-powered stateless API for PDF files. Prior to 8.30.0, The ExifTool metadata write blocklist in Gotenberg can be bypassed using ExifTool's group-prefix syntax, enabling arbitrary file rename, move, hardlink, and symlink creation on the server. ExifTool supports group-prefix syntax where File:FileName is processed identically to FileName -- the prefix is stripped by SetNewValue in Writer.pl before tag matching. The safeKeyPattern regex (^[a-zA-Z0-9\-_.:]+$) allows colons, so prefixed tag names pass validation. Any prefix works: File:FileName, System:Directory, a:HardLink, etc. Additionally, FilePermissions, FileUserID, and FileGroupID pseudo-tags are not blocked at all and can modify file attributes without any prefix. This vulnerability is fixed in 8.30.0.
Title Gotenberg: ExifTool group-prefix syntax bypasses dangerous-tag blocklist
Weaknesses CWE-184
References
Metrics cvssV3_1

{'score': 8.2, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:L'}

Weaknesses

Sources

Status
PUBLISHED
Assigner
GitHub_M
Published
Updated
May 15, 2026, 3:57 PM
Reserved
Apr 29, 2026, 12:31 AM
Status
Analyzed
Published
May 14, 2026, 4:16 PM
Modified
Nov 11, 2026, 8:10 PM