PDF::WebKit up to 1.2 to_pdf/_style_tag_for os command injection

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability has been found in PDF::WebKit up to 1.2 and classified as critical. This vulnerability affects the function to_pdf/_style_tag_for. The manipulation leads to os command injection. This vulnerability is referenced as CVE-2026-17431. Remote exploitation of the attack is possible. No exploit is available.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability, which was classified as critical, has been found in PDF::WebKit up to 1.2. This issue affects the function to_pdf/_style_tag_for. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a os command injection vulnerability. Using CWE to declare the problem leads to CWE-78. The product constructs all or part of an OS command using externally-influenced input from an upstream component, but it does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes special elements that could modify the intended OS command when it is sent to a downstream component. Impacted is confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The summary by CVE is:

PDF::WebKit versions through 1.2 for Perl allow OS command injection via a 2-arg open() of the output path in to_pdf and of stylesheet paths in _style_tag_for. to_pdf reads the generated PDF back from its path argument, and _style_tag_for reads each entry of the stylesheets list, by assigning the path to a local @ARGV and reading it with the diamond operator, which opens each @ARGV element with Perl's 2-arg open(). A value that begins or ends with a pipe ("| cmd", "cmd |") is run as a command rather than opened as a file, and one that begins with a redirect ("> path", ">> path") opens that path for write or append. to_file forwards its path argument to to_pdf and reaches the same read. Any caller that forwards untrusted input as the output path or as a stylesheets entry can run a command under the process UID; with the "cmd |" form the command's output is returned in place of the PDF, and with the "> path" form the named file is truncated. Stylesheets may only be added to an HTML source, so a URL or file source exposes the output path alone.

It is possible to read the advisory at github.com. The identification of this vulnerability is CVE-2026-17431 since 07/25/2026. The exploitation is known to be easy. The attack may be initiated remotely. No form of authentication is needed for a successful exploitation. Technical details of the vulnerability are known, but there is no available exploit. The pricing for an exploit might be around USD $0-$5k at the moment (estimation calculated on 08/13/2026). The attack technique deployed by this issue is T1202 according to MITRE ATT&CK.

There is no information about possible countermeasures known. It may be suggested to replace the affected object with an alternative product.

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Productinfo

Type

• Web Browser

Name

• PDF::WebKit

Version

• 1.0
• 1.1
• 1.2

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CPE 2.2info

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