OS command injection in xhtml2pdf via startViewer file names
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Local
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- Passive
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Attack requirements
- None
- Impact type
- Code execution
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- High · High · High
- Fix status
- Partial Red Hat: 1 without a fix
Attack profile from CVSS 4.0 · CNA. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat. Impact type from CWE-78.
Summary
xhtml2pdf before 0.2.19 is affected. The pisa.startViewer() function passes unescaped file names into os.system, which is an OS command injection flaw (CWE-78). A local user without privileges can run OS commands as the invoking user when someone runs the pisa tool with -s or --start-viewer on a crafted input file, which requires user interaction.
Written with Claude Haiku 5.5 from the sources below · 2026-10-28
Description from the CNA
xhtml2pdf before 0.2.19 contains an OS command injection vulnerability in pisa.startViewer() that allows attackers to execute commands by interpolating unescaped file names into os.system. Attackers can supply an input file whose name contains a double quote and shell metacharacters, which runs OS commands as the invoking user when the pisa tool is used with -s/--start-viewer.
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3
- Exploitation
- None
- 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
Remediation
Upgrade xhtml2pdf to version 0.2.19, which fixes the flaw. Red Hat rates it Important and has no fix available for Red Hat Quay 3.
Written with Claude Haiku 5.5 from the sources below · 2026-10-28
- Fix · CNA xhtml2pdf (xhtml2pdf) Fixed in 0.2.19
Vendor assessments
Red Hat
Red Hat rating: Important. Red Hat's page for this CVE →
| Product | Status | Plan or fix |
|---|---|---|
| Red Hat Quay 3 | Affected | No fix yet |
Timeline
- 2026-10-14 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-110642
- 2026-10-14 Alias added: GHSA-p77q-xqj7-2552
- 2026-10-15 CISA SSVC decision points changed
- 2026-10-15 Priority changed: MEDIUM → LOW
- 2026-10-16 Priority changed: LOW → MEDIUM
- 2026-10-16 Affected versions changed · Red Hat
- 2026-10-16 CVSS score added · Red Hat
References
Sources
- CVE-2026-110642 · CVE Program
- CVE-2026-110642 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-p77q-xqj7-2552 · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2026-110642 · 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