CVE-2025-55853 in webPDF
Summary
by MITRE • 02/19/2026
SoftVision webPDF before 10.0.2 is vulnerable to Server-Side Request Forgery (SSRF). The PDF converter function does not check if internal or external resources are requested in the uploaded files and allows for protocols such as http:// and file:///. This allows an attacker to upload an XML or HTML file in the application, which when rendered to a PDF allows for internal port scanning and Local File Inclusion (LFI).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/26/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2025-55853 affects SoftVision webPDF versions prior to 10.0.2 and represents a critical server-side request forgery flaw that enables attackers to bypass security controls and access internal resources. This vulnerability resides within the PDF conversion functionality of the application, specifically in how it processes uploaded files containing XML or HTML content that are subsequently rendered into PDF documents. The flaw stems from insufficient input validation and protocol filtering mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize or restrict the protocols allowed during resource resolution. According to CWE-918, this vulnerability falls under Server-Side Request Forgery, which is categorized as a serious weakness that allows attackers to make requests from the server to internal or external systems that would normally be protected by network firewalls or access controls.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability allows attackers to exploit the PDF conversion process by uploading malicious XML or HTML files that contain references to internal resources using protocols such as http:// and file:///. When these files are processed and converted to PDF format, the rendering engine executes these references without proper validation, creating an attack surface that enables both internal port scanning and local file inclusion attacks. The file:// protocol specifically allows access to local filesystem paths, enabling attackers to read arbitrary files on the server that may contain sensitive information such as configuration files, database credentials, or application source code. This represents a direct violation of the principle of least privilege and demonstrates a failure in proper input sanitization and protocol restriction mechanisms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted, as it provides attackers with the capability to perform reconnaissance activities against internal network infrastructure and extract sensitive data from the affected server. Internal port scanning capabilities allow attackers to map network services running on internal hosts that are typically not directly accessible from the internet, potentially revealing additional attack vectors or vulnerable services. The local file inclusion aspect presents a direct threat to data confidentiality, as attackers can access files that should remain protected within the application's file system. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for Initial Access through Spearphishing Attachments, and T1083 for File and Directory Discovery, as it enables both the delivery of malicious payloads and the enumeration of system resources. The impact extends beyond immediate data theft to potentially enabling further compromise through the discovery of additional vulnerabilities or the extraction of authentication credentials.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2025-55853 should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and protocol restriction measures within the PDF conversion pipeline. Organizations should immediately upgrade to SoftVision webPDF version 10.0.2 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address this vulnerability. Additionally, administrators should implement strict protocol filtering to prevent the use of dangerous protocols such as file:// and http:// within the conversion process, while also establishing proper network segmentation to limit access to internal resources. The implementation of a web application firewall with content filtering capabilities can provide additional protection by monitoring and blocking suspicious requests. Organizations should also conduct regular security assessments of their document processing pipelines and implement proper access controls to ensure that only authorized users can upload files to the system. According to industry best practices, this vulnerability should be addressed through a combination of application-level fixes, network-level protections, and ongoing monitoring to prevent exploitation attempts.