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CVE-2026-42590

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

Published: May 14, 2026Updated: May 18, 2026 Sources: CVE List NVDCWE-184

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.

CVSS Vector Breakdown

AV:NAC:LPR:NUI:NS:UC:NI:HA:L
Exploitability
AV:NAttack Vector
Network
AC:LAttack Complexity
Low
PR:NPrivileges Required
None
UI:NUser Interaction
None
Scope
S:UScope
Unchanged
Impact
C:NConfidentiality
None
I:HIntegrity
High
A:LAvailability
Low

Weaknesses

Affected Products

gotenbergoss-projectCloud & SaaSaka gotenberg

Exploitability

Official Patch Available

References

Timeline

Published
May 14, 2026
Last Updated
May 18, 2026

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