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TI-2026-79971 Aliases CVE-2026-115572GHSA-6c7f-9265-g8fw

pypdf: Possible long runtimes for repeated references to the same missing object

Priority LOW 37CWE-400Published · Updated

Key facts

Attack vector
Network
Privileges required
None
User interaction
Passive
Attack complexity
Low
Attack requirements
None
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-400.

Summary

pypdf before 6.21.2 is a pure-Python PDF library. A crafted PDF that repeatedly references the same nonexistent indirect object forces repeated full-file recovery loads when pages or other parts are accessed, which causes uncontrolled resource consumption (CWE-400) and long runtimes. A remote attacker with no privileges can exploit this if a user opens the crafted file, and the impact is high availability loss.

Written with Claude Haiku 5.5 from the sources below · 2026-10-29

Description from the CNA

pypdf is a free and open-source pure-python PDF library. Prior to 6.21.2, an attacker can craft a PDF that repeatedly references the same nonexistent indirect object, causing relevant file parts such as pages to trigger repeated full-file recovery loads and long runtimes when accessed. This issue is fixed in version 6.21.2.

Why it matters now

Exploitation None reported CISA SSVC · not in CISA KEV
EPSS 0.00375 31st percentileScored 2026-11-07
Fix Partial pypdf (py-pdf): 6.21.2pypdf (PyPI): 6.21.2Red Hat: 7 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 6.21.26.21.2Patch availableCNA
—pypdf (PyPI)before 6.21.26.21.2Patch availableGHSA-6c7f-9265-g8fw
  • pypdf Vendorpy-pdf Affected before 6.21.2 Fixed in 6.21.2 Patch available CNA
  • pypdf (PyPI) Vendor— Affected before 6.21.2 Fixed in 6.21.2 Patch available GHSA-6c7f-9265-g8fw

CPE names Threatist (inferred) · 1

Inferred from how NVD named this product before; not given by a source.

CPEVersionsRoleVendor
cpe:2.3:a:py-pdf:pypdf:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*——py-pdf
  • cpe:2.3:a:py-pdf:pypdf:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions — — ·py-pdf

Remediation

Upgrade pypdf on PyPI to version 6.21.2, the fixed version. Red Hat rates this Moderate. Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform 2 and Red Hat Quay 3 are affected with no fix planned. Ansible Automation Orchestrator 2026, Lightspeed Core, OpenShift Lightspeed, Red Hat Enterprise Linux AI (RHEL AI) 3 and Red Hat OpenShift AI (RHOAI) are affected with no fix available.

Written with Claude Haiku 5.5 from the sources below · 2026-10-29

  • Fix · CNA pypdf (py-pdf) Fixed in 6.21.2
  • Fix · GHSA-6c7f-9265-g8fw pypdf (PyPI) Fixed in 6.21.2 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. 2026-10-23 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-115572
  2. 2026-10-23 Alias added: GHSA-6c7f-9265-g8fw
  3. 2026-10-23 Fix available: PyPI/[email protected] · GHSA-6c7f-9265-g8fw
  4. 2026-10-23 CVSS score added · GHSA-6c7f-9265-g8fw
  5. 2026-10-23 Weakness changed · GHSA-6c7f-9265-g8fw
  6. 2026-10-23 5 new references · GHSA-6c7f-9265-g8fw
  7. 2026-10-24 Priority changed: MEDIUM → LOW
  8. 2026-10-24 Affected versions changed · Red Hat
  9. 2026-10-24 CVSS score added · Red Hat
  10. 2026-10-29 CISA SSVC decision points changed

References

Other 5

  • TI-2026-79334 Exponential SVG use expansion exhausts CPU and memory in fpdf2 CVSS 3.1MEDIUM 6.5
  • 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-2022-08670 Manipulated inline images can cause Infinite Loop in PyPDF2 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
See all 73 →

Sources

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