py-pdf pypdf up to 6.16.0 Form XObject pypdf/_page.py PageObject._extract_text resource consumption

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability, which was classified as problematic, has been found in py-pdf pypdf up to 6.16.0. The affected element is the function PageObject._extract_text of the file pypdf/_page.py of the component Form XObject. This manipulation causes resource consumption. The identification of this vulnerability is CVE-2026-84311. It is possible to initiate the attack remotely. There is no exploit available.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability classified as problematic was found in py-pdf pypdf up to 6.16.0. Affected by this vulnerability is the function PageObject._extract_text of the file pypdf/_page.py of the component Form XObject. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a resource consumption vulnerability. The CWE definition for the vulnerability is CWE-400. The product does not properly control the allocation and maintenance of a limited resource, thereby enabling an actor to influence the amount of resources consumed, eventually leading to the exhaustion of available resources. As an impact it is known to affect availability. The summary by CVE is:

pypdf is a free and open-source pure-python PDF library. Prior to 6.16.1, an attacker can craft a PDF that causes pypdf/_page.py PageObject._extract_text and PageObject.extract_xform_text to traverse a directed acyclic graph of reused form XObjects in which each form invokes a child multiple times, creating exponentially many traversal paths and causing long runtimes and large memory consumption. This issue is fixed in version 6.16.1.

The advisory is shared at github.com. This vulnerability is known as CVE-2026-84311 since 09/01/2026. The exploitation appears to be easy. The attack can be launched remotely. The exploitation doesn't need any form of authentication. Technical details are known, but no exploit is available. MITRE ATT&CK project uses the attack technique T1499 for this issue.

Upgrading to version 6.16.1 eliminates this vulnerability.

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Productinfo

Vendor

• py-pdf

Name

• pypdf

Version

• 6.0
• 6.1
• 6.2
• 6.3
• 6.4
• 6.5
• 6.6
• 6.7
• 6.8
• 6.9
• 6.10
• 6.11
• 6.12
• 6.13
• 6.14
• 6.15
• 6.16.0

Website

• Product: https://github.com/py-pdf/pypdf/

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CPE 2.2info

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