CVE-2025-53626 in pdfme
Summary
by MITRE • 07/10/2025
pdfme is a TypeScript-based PDF generator and React-based UI. The expression evaluation feature in pdfme 5.2.0 to 5.4.0 contains critical vulnerabilities allowing sandbox escape leading to XSS and prototype pollution attacks. This vulnerability is fixed in 5.4.1.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/11/2025
The pdfme library represents a significant security concern within the TypeScript and React ecosystem, particularly affecting versions 5.2.0 through 5.4.0. This PDF generation and React-based UI framework serves as a critical component for developers creating dynamic PDF documents with interactive elements, making its security implications far-reaching across various applications and systems that depend on its functionality. The vulnerability resides within the expression evaluation feature that processes user-provided data to generate PDF content, creating an attack surface that can be exploited by malicious actors seeking to compromise applications using this library.
The technical flaw manifests as a sandbox escape vulnerability within the expression evaluation mechanism, allowing attackers to bypass intended security boundaries and execute arbitrary code within the application context. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-94, which describes "Improper Control of Generation of Code" and specifically relates to inadequate sandboxing controls that permit unauthorized code execution. The flaw enables both cross-site scripting attacks through the exploitation of the expression evaluation system and prototype pollution attacks that can manipulate the underlying JavaScript object model. These combined attack vectors create a particularly dangerous scenario where an attacker can not only inject malicious scripts into PDF documents but also corrupt the application's prototype chain, potentially leading to more severe consequences including privilege escalation or complete system compromise.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple XSS attacks, as prototype pollution can fundamentally alter how the application processes data and handles user input. When exploited, attackers can manipulate the behavior of the pdfme library itself, potentially causing applications to execute unintended code paths or behave in unexpected ways. The vulnerability affects not only the PDF generation process but also the broader application security posture of systems using this library, as the sandbox escape allows for attacks that can persist across multiple user sessions or document generations. This creates a persistent threat vector that can be leveraged by attackers to maintain access or escalate privileges within compromised applications.
Security professionals should immediately update all affected systems to pdfme version 5.4.1, which contains the necessary patches to address both the sandbox escape and prototype pollution vulnerabilities. The mitigation strategy should include comprehensive security testing of applications using this library, particularly focusing on input validation and sanitization of user-provided data that may be processed through the expression evaluation feature. Organizations should also implement monitoring for unusual PDF generation patterns or unexpected code execution that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper sandboxing mechanisms in JavaScript environments and highlights the need for thorough security reviews of libraries that process untrusted data, particularly those implementing expression evaluation or template processing capabilities. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for "Command and Scripting Interpreter: JavaScript' and T1566.002 for "Phishing: Spearphishing Attachment', emphasizing the need for layered security approaches when dealing with libraries that handle dynamic code execution.