CVE-2023-46250
Publication date 31 October 2023
Last updated 11 July 2025
Ubuntu priority
Cvss 3 Severity Score
Description
pypdf is a free and open-source pure-python PDF library. An attacker who uses a vulnerability present in versions 3.7.0 through 3.16.4 can craft a PDF which leads to an infinite loop. This infinite loop blocks the current process and can utilize a single core of the CPU by 100%. It does not affect memory usage. That is, for example, the case when the pypdf-user manipulates an incoming malicious PDF e.g. by merging it with another PDF or by adding annotations. The issue was fixed in version 3.17.0. As a workaround, apply the patch manually by modifying `pypdf/generic/_data_structures.py`.
Status
| Package | Ubuntu Release | Status |
|---|---|---|
| pypdf | 25.10 questing |
Needs evaluation
|
| 24.04 LTS noble |
Needs evaluation
|
|
| 22.04 LTS jammy | Not in release | |
| 20.04 LTS focal | Not in release | |
| 18.04 LTS bionic | Ignored end of standard support | |
| 16.04 LTS xenial | Ignored end of standard support | |
| 14.04 LTS trusty | Ignored end of standard support | |
| pypdf2 | 25.10 questing | Not in release |
| 24.04 LTS noble |
Needs evaluation
|
|
| 22.04 LTS jammy |
Needs evaluation
|
|
| 20.04 LTS focal |
Needs evaluation
|
|
| 18.04 LTS bionic |
Needs evaluation
|
|
| 16.04 LTS xenial |
Needs evaluation
|
|
| 14.04 LTS trusty | Ignored end of standard support |
Severity score breakdown
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Base score |
|
| Attack vector | Local |
| Attack complexity | High |
| Privileges required | None |
| User interaction | None |
| Scope | Unchanged |
| Confidentiality | None |
| Integrity impact | None |
| Availability impact | High |
| Vector | CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H |
References
Other references
- https://github.com/py-pdf/pypdf/security/advisories/GHSA-wjcc-cq79-p63f
- https://github.com/py-pdf/pypdf/pull/2264
- https://github.com/py-pdf/pypdf/commit/9b23ac3c9619492570011d551d521690de9a3e2d (3.17.0)
- https://github.com/py-pdf/pypdf/commit/9b23ac3c9619492570011d551d521690de9a3e2d
- https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-46250