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TI-2021-02769 Aliases CVE-2021-3838GHSA-577p-7j7h-2jgf

PHAR Deserialization in dompdf/dompdf

Priority HIGH 82CWE-502Published · Updated

Key facts

Attack vector
Network
Privileges required
None
User interaction
None
Attack complexity
Low
Impact type
Code execution
Confidentiality · integrity · availability
High · High · High
Fix status
Fixed

Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CISA ADP. Fix status from CNA and GitHub. Impact type from CWE-502.

Summary

DomPDF before version 2.0.0 is vulnerable to PHAR deserialization due to a lack of checking on the protocol before passing it into the file_get_contents() function. An attacker who can upload files of any type to the server can pass in the phar:// protocol to unserialize the uploaded file and instantiate arbitrary PHP objects. This can lead to remote code execution, especially when DOMPdf is used with frameworks with documented POP chains like Laravel or vulnerable developer code.

Why it matters now

Exploitation Proof of concept CISA SSVC · not in CISA KEV
EPSS 0.01432 73rd percentileScored 2026-11-07
Public exploit Yes 1 exploit referenceTagged by NVD
Fix Fixed dompdf/dompdf (dompdf): 2.0.0dompdf/dompdf (Packagist): 2.0.0

SSVC decision points

CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3

Exploitation
Poc
Automatable
Yes
Technical impact
Total

The decision (Track, Attend, Act) also depends on your mission and well-being impact; see CISA's SSVC guide.

Affected products

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed inStatusSource
dompdfdompdf/dompdfbefore 2.0.02.0.0Patch availableCNA
—dompdf/dompdf (Packagist)before 2.0.02.0.0Patch availableGHSA-577p-7j7h-2jgf
  • dompdf/dompdf Vendordompdf Affected before 2.0.0 Fixed in 2.0.0 Patch available CNA
  • dompdf/dompdf (Packagist) Vendor— Affected before 2.0.0 Fixed in 2.0.0 Patch available GHSA-577p-7j7h-2jgf

CPE configurations NVD · 1

CPEVersionsRoleVendor
cpe:2.3:a:dompdf_project:dompdf:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*before 2.0.0VulnerableDompdf Project
  • cpe:2.3:a:dompdf_project:dompdf:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions before 2.0.0 Vulnerable ·Dompdf Project

Remediation

  • Fix · CNA dompdf/dompdf (dompdf) Fixed in 2.0.0
  • Fix · GHSA-577p-7j7h-2jgf dompdf/dompdf (Packagist) Fixed in 2.0.0 Advisory →

Fixed in the same release

Records fixed by the same vendor advisory or release, as the CNA lists them.

  • Release ·

    dompdf/dompdf 2.0.0

    2 records Highest priority Priority HIGH 2 HIGH

    Other records, highest priority first

    • TI-2021-02812 Improper Restriction of XML External Entity Reference in dompdf/dompdfPriority HIGH 82
    Show all 2 records →

Timeline

  1. 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2021-3838
  2. 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-577p-7j7h-2jgf

References

Exploit 1

Patch 1

Advisory 1

Other 1

  • TI-2023-10313 URI validation failure on SVG parsing. Bypass of CVE-2023-23924 CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 10.0
  • TI-2023-09722 URI validation failure on SVG parsing in Dompdf CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 10.0
  • TI-2021-02812 Improper Restriction of XML External Entity Reference in dompdf/dompdf CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
  • TI-2024-16571 php-svg-lib lacks path validation on font through SVG inline styles CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
  • TI-2023-27479 php-svg-lib possible DoS caused by infinite recursion when parsing SVG document CVSS 3.1HIGH 7.5
  • TI-2026-42749 Dompdf: Denial of Service (DoS) via Resource Exhaustion using Oversized Image Bitmaps CVSS 4.0MEDIUM 6.3
See all 16 →

Sources

This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences