PDF /GoToR action argv injection enables single-click RCE via --gtk-module dlopen
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Local
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- Active
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Attack requirements
- None
- Impact type
- Code execution
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- High · High · High
- Fix status
- Partial Red Hat: 14 fixed, 1 without a fix
Attack profile from CVSS 4.0 · CNA. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat. Impact type from CWE-77.
Summary
Atril Document Viewer is the default document reader of the MATE desktop environment for Linux. A single-click remote code execution vulnerability in versions prior to 1.26.3 and 1.28.4 allows an attacker to achieve arbitrary code execution as the user by tricking them into clicking a link inside a malicious PDF document. The PDF can be packaged as a polyglot file that is simultaneously a valid PDF and a valid ELF shared library, making the attack a single-file, single-click, configuration-independent RCE on stock atril installations. The root cause is `shell/ev-application.c:ev_spawn`, which builds a command line from attacker-controlled PDF link-destination fields without applying `g_shell_quote`. The cmdline is then handed to `g_app_info_create_from_commandline`, which shell-parses it back into argv — splitting any embedded `--gtk-module=PATH` into a separate argv element. GTK then `dlopen()`s the path during init, running any `__attribute__((constructor))` it finds. Versions 1.26.3 and 1.28.4 contain a patch for the issue. This is the same defect class as CVE-2023-51698 (CBT `--checkpoint-action` injection in `comics-document.c`, fixed in 1.6.2) but in a different code path (`shell/ev-application.c`) that the original patch did not touch.
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3
- Exploitation
- Poc
- Automatable
- No
- Technical impact
- Total
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| mate-desktop | atril | before 1.26.3; 1.27.0 to before 1.28.4 | 1.26.3, 1.28.4 | Patch available | CNA |
- atril Vendormate-desktop Affected before 1.26.3; 1.27.0 to before 1.28.4 Fixed in 1.26.3, 1.28.4 Patch available CNA
Remediation
- Fix · CNA atril (mate-desktop) Fixed in 1.26.3, 1.28.4
Red Hat 9 advisories
- RHSA-2026:46467 Released 2026-07-27 · Red Hat rating Importantevince security update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream AUS (v.8.6) evince-3.28.4-16.el8_6.1, evince-browser-plugin-3.28.4-16.el8_6.1, evince-libs-3.28.4-16.el8_6.1 +1
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream EUS EXTENSION (v.8.6) evince-3.28.4-16.el8_6.1, evince-browser-plugin-3.28.4-16.el8_6.1, evince-libs-3.28.4-16.el8_6.1 +1
- RHSA-2026:43398 Released 2026-07-22 · Red Hat rating Importantevince security update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream AUS (v.8.4) evince-3.28.4-11.el8_4.1, evince-browser-plugin-3.28.4-11.el8_4.1, evince-libs-3.28.4-11.el8_4.1 +1
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream EUS EXTENSION (v.8.4) evince-3.28.4-11.el8_4.1, evince-browser-plugin-3.28.4-11.el8_4.1, evince-libs-3.28.4-11.el8_4.1 +1
- RHSA-2026:42692 Released 2026-07-21 · Red Hat rating Importantevince security update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream E4S (v.8.8) evince-3.28.4-16.el8_8.1, evince-browser-plugin-3.28.4-16.el8_8.1, evince-libs-3.28.4-16.el8_8.1 +1
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream TUS (v.8.8) evince-3.28.4-16.el8_8.1, evince-browser-plugin-3.28.4-16.el8_8.1, evince-libs-3.28.4-16.el8_8.1 +1
Show 6 more Red Hat advisories
- RHSA-2026:41904 Released 2026-07-20 · Red Hat rating Importantevince security update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server (v. 7 ELS) evince-3.28.2-11.el7_9, evince-dvi-3.28.2-11.el7_9, evince-libs-3.28.2-11.el7_9 +2
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server Optional (v. 7 ELS) evince-browser-plugin-3.28.2-11.el7_9, evince-devel-3.28.2-11.el7_9, evince-devel-3.28.2-11.el7_9.ppc
- RHSA-2026:39115 Released 2026-07-14 · Red Hat rating Importantevince security update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream E4S (v.9.2) evince-40.5-2.el9_2.1, evince-libs-40.5-2.el9_2.1, evince-nautilus-40.5-2.el9_2.1 +2
- RHSA-2026:33416 Released 2026-06-30 · Red Hat rating Importantevince security update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream E4S (v.9.4) evince-40.5-2.el9_4.1, evince-libs-40.5-2.el9_4.1, evince-nautilus-40.5-2.el9_4.1 +2
- RHSA-2026:33169 Released 2026-06-29 · Red Hat rating Importantevince security update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream EUS (v.9.6) evince-40.5-2.el9_6.1, evince-libs-40.5-2.el9_6.1, evince-nautilus-40.5-2.el9_6.1 +2
- RHSA-2026:28998 Released 2026-06-24 · Red Hat rating Importantevince security update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 8) evince-3.28.4-17.el8_10, evince-browser-plugin-3.28.4-17.el8_10, evince-libs-3.28.4-17.el8_10 +1
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux CRB (v. 8) evince-devel-3.28.4-17.el8_10
- RHSA-2026:27819 Released 2026-06-22 · Red Hat rating Importantevince security update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 9) evince-40.5-4.el9_8.1, evince-libs-40.5-4.el9_8.1, evince-nautilus-40.5-4.el9_8.1 +2
Vendor assessments
Red Hat
Red Hat rating: Important. Red Hat's page for this CVE →
| Product | Status | Plan or fix |
|---|---|---|
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 | Affected | No fix planned: Will not fix |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 8) | Fixed | RHSA-2026:28998 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 9) | Fixed | RHSA-2026:27819 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream AUS (v.8.4) | Fixed | RHSA-2026:43398 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream AUS (v.8.6) | Fixed | RHSA-2026:46467 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream E4S (v.8.8) | Fixed | RHSA-2026:42692 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream E4S (v.9.2) | Fixed | RHSA-2026:39115 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream E4S (v.9.4) | Fixed | RHSA-2026:33416 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream EUS (v.9.6) | Fixed | RHSA-2026:33169 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream EUS EXTENSION (v.8.4) | Fixed | RHSA-2026:43398 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream EUS EXTENSION (v.8.6) | Fixed | RHSA-2026:46467 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream TUS (v.8.8) | Fixed | RHSA-2026:42692 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux CRB (v. 8) | Fixed | RHSA-2026:28998 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server (v. 7 ELS) | Fixed | RHSA-2026:41904 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server Optional (v. 7 ELS) | Fixed | RHSA-2026:41904 |
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-46529
References
More mate-desktop vulnerabilities
- TI-2023-28344 Atril's CBT comic book parsing vulnerable to Remote Code Execution CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.6
- TI-2023-28577 Path traversal via crafted cpio archives in Engrampa archivers CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.6
- TI-2023-28520 Remote Code Execution Vulnerability in Atril's EPUB ebook parsing CVSS 3.1HIGH 8.5
- TI-2018-14686 mate-screensaver before 1.20.2 in MATE Desktop Environment allows physically proximate… CVSS 3.0MEDIUM 6.1
- TI-2012-04676 The default configuration in mate-settings-daemon 1.5.3 allows local users to change the… CVSS 2.0LOW 2.1
Sources
- CVE-2026-46529 · CVE Program
- CVE-2026-46529 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- CVE-2026-46529 · Red Hat security data · CC BY 4.0
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences