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TI-2023-17997 Aliases CVE-2023-35936

Arbitrary file write is possible in Pandoc when using PDF output or --extract-media with untrusted input

Priority LOW 27CWE-20Published · Updated

Key facts

Attack vector
Local
Privileges required
Low
User interaction
Required
Attack complexity
High
Impact type
—
Confidentiality · integrity · availability
None · High · Low
Fix status
Partial Red Hat: 1 without a fix

Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CNA. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat.

Summary

Pandoc is a Haskell library for converting from one markup format to another, and a command-line tool that uses this library. Starting in version 1.13 and prior to version 3.1.4, Pandoc is susceptible to an arbitrary file write vulnerability, which can be triggered by providing a specially crafted image element in the input when generating files using the `--extract-media` option or outputting to PDF format. This vulnerability allows an attacker to create or overwrite arbitrary files on the system ,depending on the privileges of the process running pandoc. It only affects systems that pass untrusted user input to pandoc and allow pandoc to be used to produce a PDF or with the `--extract-media` option. The fix is to unescape the percent-encoding prior to checking that the resource is not above the working directory, and prior to extracting the extension. Some code for checking that the path is below the working directory was flawed in a similar way and has also been fixed. Note that the `--sandbox` option, which only affects IO done by readers and writers themselves, does not block this vulnerability. The vulnerability is patched in pandoc 3.1.4. As a workaround, audit the pandoc command and disallow PDF output and the `--extract-media` option.

Why it matters now

EPSS 0.00368 30th percentileScored 2026-11-07
Public exploit Yes 1 exploit referenceTagged by NVD
Fix Partial pandoc (jgm): 3.1.4Red Hat: 1 without a fix

SSVC decision points

Not available: CISA has not published SSVC decision points for this record.

Affected products

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed inStatusSource
jgmpandoc1.13 to before 3.1.43.1.4Patch availableCNA
  • pandoc Vendorjgm Affected 1.13 to before 3.1.4 Fixed in 3.1.4 Patch available CNA

CPE configurations NVD · 2

CPEVersionsRoleVendor
cpe:2.3:a:pandoc:pandoc:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*1.13 to before 3.1.4VulnerablePandoc
cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:10.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*10.0VulnerableDebian
  • cpe:2.3:a:pandoc:pandoc:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 1.13 to before 3.1.4 Vulnerable ·Pandoc
  • cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:10.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 10.0 Vulnerable ·Debian

Remediation

  • Fix · CNA pandoc (jgm) Fixed in 3.1.4

Vendor assessments

Red Hat

Red Hat rating: Moderate. Red Hat's page for this CVE →

ProductStatusPlan or fix
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8AffectedNo fix planned: Will not fix

Timeline

  1. 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2023-35936

References

Sources