Read the docs
TI-2026-65555 Aliases CVE-2026-102998GHSA-php9-fj8v-98fj

pypdf: Possible long runtimes when generating appearance streams

Priority MEDIUM 44CWE-400Published · Updated

Key facts

Attack vector
Network
Privileges required
None
User interaction
None
Attack complexity
Low
Attack requirements
None
Impact type
Denial of service
Confidentiality · integrity · availability
None · None · High
Fix status
Partial Red Hat: 2 fixed, 5 without a fix

Attack profile from CVSS 4.0 · CNA. Fix status from CNA, GitHub and Red Hat. Impact type from CWE-400.

Summary

pypdf is a free and open-source pure-python PDF library. Prior to 6.19.0, a crafted PDF with form field values can cause pypdf/generic/_appearance_stream.py appearance-stream generation to repeat invariant selection-data work inside a loop when an application updates fields with flattening enabled, resulting in excessive runtimes and application unavailability. This issue is fixed in version 6.19.0.

Why it matters now

Exploitation None reported CISA SSVC · not in CISA KEV
EPSS 0.0034 27th percentileScored 2026-11-07
Fix Partial pypdf (py-pdf): 6.19.0pypdf (PyPI): 6.19.0Red Hat: 2 advisoriesRed Hat: 2 fixed, 5 without a fix

SSVC decision points

CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3

Exploitation
None
Automatable
Yes
Technical impact
Partial

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

Affected products

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed inStatusSource
py-pdfpypdfbefore 6.19.06.19.0Patch availableCNA
—pypdf (PyPI)before 6.19.06.19.0Patch availableGHSA-php9-fj8v-98fj
  • pypdf Vendorpy-pdf Affected before 6.19.0 Fixed in 6.19.0 Patch available CNA
  • pypdf (PyPI) Vendor— Affected before 6.19.0 Fixed in 6.19.0 Patch available GHSA-php9-fj8v-98fj

CPE configurations NVD · 1

CPEVersionsRoleVendor
cpe:2.3:a:py-pdf:pypdf:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*before 6.19.0Vulnerablepy-pdf
  • cpe:2.3:a:py-pdf:pypdf:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions before 6.19.0 Vulnerable ·py-pdf

Remediation

  • Fix · CNA pypdf (py-pdf) Fixed in 6.19.0
  • Fix · GHSA-php9-fj8v-98fj pypdf (PyPI) Fixed in 6.19.0 Advisory →

Red Hat 2 advisories

  • RHSA-2026:85980 Released 2026-10-20 · Red Hat rating Important
    Red Hat Quay 3.18.2
    • Red Hat Quay 3.18 registry.redhat.io/quay/quay-rhel9
  • RHSA-2026:83822 Released 2026-10-16 · Red Hat rating Important
    Red Hat Quay 3.17.6
    • Red Hat Quay 3.17 registry.redhat.io/quay/quay-rhel9

Vendor assessments

Red Hat

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

ProductStatusPlan or fix
Lightspeed CoreAffectedNo fix yet
Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform 2AffectedNo fix planned: Will not fix
Red Hat Enterprise Linux AI (RHEL AI) 3AffectedNo fix yet
Red Hat OpenShift AI (RHOAI)AffectedNo fix yet
Red Hat Quay 3AffectedNo fix yet
Red Hat Quay 3.17Fixed RHSA-2026:83822
Red Hat Quay 3.18Fixed RHSA-2026:85980
Not affected: 4 products
  • Ansible Automation Orchestrator 2026
  • OpenShift Lightspeed
  • Red Hat Quay 3.17
  • Red Hat Quay 3.18

Timeline

  1. 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-102998
  2. 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-php9-fj8v-98fj
  3. 2026-10-05 CVSS score added · NVD
  4. 2026-10-18 Fix available: RHSA-2026:83822 · Red Hat
  5. 2026-10-18 Fix available: Red Hat Quay 3.17 · Red Hat
  6. 2026-10-20 Fix available: RHSA-2026:85980 · Red Hat
  7. 2026-10-21 Fix available: Red Hat Quay 3.18 · Red Hat

References

Patch 2

Advisory 2

Other 2

  • TI-2023-18601 Infinite Loop when reading malformed objects in pypdf CVSS 3.1MEDIUM 6.5
  • TI-2023-18305 Infinite Loop when a comment isn't followed by a character in pypdf CVSS 3.1MEDIUM 6.2
  • TI-2026-42743 pypdf: Possible infinite loop for not terminated inline images CVSS 4.0HIGH 8.7
  • TI-2026-42742 pypdf: Possible infinite loop for not terminated inline images (ASCII85 and ASCIIHex filter) CVSS 4.0HIGH 8.7
  • TI-2026-65557 pypdf: Possible large memory usage when retrieving alphabetical page labels CVSS 4.0HIGH 8.7
  • TI-2026-65556 pypdf: Possible long runtimes with large amount of embedded files CVSS 4.0HIGH 8.7
See all 65 →

Sources

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