Self Cross Site Scripting (XSS) In Merge Functionality in Stirling-PDF
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Network
- Privileges required
- Low
- User interaction
- Active
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Attack requirements
- Present
- Impact type
- Cross-site scripting
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- Low · Low · None
- Fix status
- Fixed
Attack profile from CVSS 4.0 · CNA. Fix status from CNA. Impact type from CWE-79.
Summary
Stirling-PDF is a locally hosted web application that allows you to perform various operations on PDF files. In affected versions the Merge functionality takes untrusted user input (file name) and uses it directly in the creation of HTML pages allowing any unauthenticated to execute JavaScript code in the context of the user. The issue stems to the code starting at `Line 24` in `src/main/resources/static/js/merge.js`. The file name is directly being input into InnerHTML with no sanitization on the file name, allowing a malicious user to be able to upload files with names containing HTML tags. As HTML tags can include JavaScript code, this can be used to execute JavaScript code in the context of the user. This is a self-injection style attack and relies on a user uploading the malicious file themselves and it impact only them, not other users. A user might be social engineered into running this to launch a phishing attack. Nevertheless, this breaks the expected security restrictions in place by the application. This issue has been addressed in version 0.32.0 and all users are advised to upgrade. There are no known workarounds for this vulnerability.
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3
- Exploitation
- Poc
- Automatable
- No
- Technical impact
- Partial
The decision (Track, Attend, Act) also depends on your mission and well-being impact; see CISA's SSVC guide.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stirling-Tools | Stirling-PDF | before 0.32.0 | 0.32.0 | Patch available | CNA |
- Stirling-PDF VendorStirling-Tools Affected before 0.32.0 Fixed in 0.32.0 Patch available CNA
CPE names CISA-ADP · 1
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:a:stirlingpdf:stirling_pdf:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | — | — | Stirlingpdf |
- cpe:2.3:a:stirlingpdf:stirling_pdf:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions — — ·Stirlingpdf
Remediation
- Fix · CNA Stirling-PDF (Stirling-Tools) Fixed in 0.32.0
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2024-52286
References
More Stirling-Tools vulnerabilities
- TI-2025-34843 Stirling-PDF SSRF vulnerability on /api/v1/convert/markdown/pdf CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2025-34834 Stirling-PDF SSRF vulnerability on /api/v1/convert/file/pdf CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2025-34833 Stirling-PDF SSRF vulnerability on /api/v1/convert/html/pdf CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2026-74445 Code injection in Stirling-PDF via H2 database import CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.1
- TI-2025-29281 Stirling-PDF Server-Side Request Forgery (SSRF)-Induced Arbitrary File Read Vulnerability CVSS 4.0HIGH 7.7
- TI-2026-76934 Stirling-PDF H2 SQL denylist bypass allows Java method execution CVSS 4.0HIGH 8.6
Sources
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences