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TI-2026-78858 Aliases CVE-2026-113794GHSA-39mj-jf6j-2qj3

Infinite loop in pypdf when a PDF ends inside an xref table

Priority LOW 27CWE-835Published · Updated

Key facts

Attack vector
Network
Privileges required
None
User interaction
Passive
Attack complexity
Low
Attack requirements
Present
Impact type
Denial of service
Confidentiality · integrity · availability
None · None · High
Fix status
Partial Red Hat: 7 without a fix

Attack profile from CVSS 4.0 · CNA. Fix status from CNA, GitHub and Red Hat. Impact type from CWE-835.

Summary

pypdf before 6.20.0 mishandles a PDF that ends unexpectedly inside a standard cross-reference table, so its parser enters an infinite loop (CWE-835). A remote attacker without privileges can craft an incomplete PDF that hangs pypdf when a user processes it, causing a denial of service.

Written with Claude Haiku 5.5 from the sources below · 2026-11-05

Description from the CNA

pypdf is a free and open-source pure-python PDF library. Prior to 6.20.0, an attacker can craft an incomplete PDF that ends inside a standard cross-reference table, causing pypdf to mishandle the unexpected end of file and enter an infinite loop. This issue is fixed in version 6.20.0.

Why it matters now

Exploitation None reported CISA SSVC · not in CISA KEV
EPSS 0.00354 29th percentileScored 2026-11-07
Fix Partial pypdf (py-pdf): 6.20.0pypdf (PyPI): 6.20.0Red Hat: 7 without a fix

SSVC decision points

CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3

Exploitation
None
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

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed inStatusSource
py-pdfpypdfbefore 6.20.06.20.0Patch availableCNA
—pypdf (PyPI)before 6.20.06.20.0Patch availableGHSA-39mj-jf6j-2qj3
  • pypdf Vendorpy-pdf Affected before 6.20.0 Fixed in 6.20.0 Patch available CNA
  • pypdf (PyPI) Vendor— Affected before 6.20.0 Fixed in 6.20.0 Patch available GHSA-39mj-jf6j-2qj3

CPE configurations NVD · 1

CPEVersionsRoleVendor
cpe:2.3:a:py-pdf:pypdf:*:*:*:*:*:python:*:*before 6.20.0Vulnerablepy-pdf
  • cpe:2.3:a:py-pdf:pypdf:*:*:*:*:*:python:*:* Versions before 6.20.0 Vulnerable ·py-pdf

Remediation

Upgrade pypdf to version 6.20.0, which contains the fix. Red Hat has no fix available for Ansible Automation Orchestrator 2026, Lightspeed Core, OpenShift Lightspeed, Red Hat Enterprise Linux AI (RHEL AI) 3, and Red Hat OpenShift AI (RHOAI), and no fix planned for Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform 2 and Red Hat Quay 3.

Written with Claude Haiku 5.5 from the sources below · 2026-11-05

  • Fix · CNA pypdf (py-pdf) Fixed in 6.20.0
  • Fix · GHSA-39mj-jf6j-2qj3 pypdf (PyPI) Fixed in 6.20.0 Advisory →

Vendor assessments

Red Hat

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

ProductStatusPlan or fix
Ansible Automation Orchestrator 2026AffectedNo fix yet: Fix deferred
Lightspeed CoreAffectedNo fix yet: Fix deferred
OpenShift LightspeedAffectedNo fix yet: Fix deferred
Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform 2AffectedNo fix planned: Out of support scope
Red Hat Enterprise Linux AI (RHEL AI) 3AffectedNo fix yet: Fix deferred
Red Hat OpenShift AI (RHOAI)AffectedNo fix yet: Fix deferred
Red Hat Quay 3AffectedNo fix planned: Out of support scope

Timeline

  1. 2026-10-21 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-113794
  2. 2026-10-21 Alias added: GHSA-39mj-jf6j-2qj3
  3. 2026-10-21 Fix available: PyPI/[email protected] · GHSA-39mj-jf6j-2qj3
  4. 2026-10-21 CVSS score added · GHSA-39mj-jf6j-2qj3
  5. 2026-10-21 Weakness changed · GHSA-39mj-jf6j-2qj3
  6. 2026-10-21 6 new references · GHSA-39mj-jf6j-2qj3
  7. 2026-10-22 Affected versions changed · Red Hat
  8. 2026-10-22 CVSS score added · Red Hat
  9. 2026-10-23 Priority changed: MEDIUM → LOW
  10. 2026-10-28 CISA SSVC decision points changed
  11. 2026-11-02 CVSS score added · NVD

References

Patch 3

Advisory 1

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