CVE-2026-40505 (GCVE-0-2026-40505)
Vulnerability from cvelistv5 – Published: 2026-04-16 01:20 – Updated: 2026-07-14 20:00
VLAI
EPSS
VEX
Title
MuPDF < 1.27 mutool ANSI Injection via Metadata
Summary
MuPDF before 1.27 contains an ANSI injection vulnerability in mutool that allows attackers to inject arbitrary ANSI escape sequences through crafted PDF metadata fields. Attackers can embed malicious ANSI escape codes in PDF metadata that are passed unsanitized to terminal output when running mutool info, enabling them to manipulate terminal display for social engineering attacks such as presenting fake prompts or spoofed commands.
Severity
SSVC
Exploitation: none
Automatable: no
Technical Impact: partial
CISA Coordinator · CISA-ADP (v2.0.3)
Decision recorded 2026-04-16 13:53 UTC
CWE
- CWE-150 - Improper Neutralization of Escape, Meta, or Control Sequences
Assigner
References
4 references
| URL | Tags |
|---|---|
| https://github.com/ArtifexSoftware/mupdf/releases… | release-notes |
| https://github.com/ArtifexSoftware/mupdf/commit/0… | patch |
| https://cgit.ghostscript.com/cgi-bin/cgit.cgi/mup… | issue-tracking |
| https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/mupdf-mutool… | third-party-advisory |
Impacted products
1 product
| Vendor | Product | Version | CPE status | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Artifex Software Inc. | MuPDF |
Affected:
0 , < 1.27.0
(semver)
Affected: 0f17d789fe8c29b41e47663be82514aaca3a4dfb (git) cpe:2.3:a:artifex:mupdf:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* cpe:2.3:a:artifex:mupdf:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* |
{
"containers": {
"adp": [
{
"metrics": [
{
"other": {
"content": {
"id": "CVE-2026-40505",
"options": [
{
"Exploitation": "none"
},
{
"Automatable": "no"
},
{
"Technical Impact": "partial"
}
],
"role": "CISA Coordinator",
"timestamp": "2026-04-16T13:53:13.801290Z",
"version": "2.0.3"
},
"type": "ssvc"
}
}
],
"providerMetadata": {
"dateUpdated": "2026-04-16T13:53:40.763Z",
"orgId": "134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0",
"shortName": "CISA-ADP"
},
"title": "CISA ADP Vulnrichment"
}
],
"cna": {
"affected": [
{
"defaultStatus": "unaffected",
"product": "MuPDF",
"vendor": "Artifex Software Inc.",
"versions": [
{
"lessThan": "1.27.0",
"status": "affected",
"version": "0",
"versionType": "semver"
},
{
"status": "affected",
"version": "0f17d789fe8c29b41e47663be82514aaca3a4dfb",
"versionType": "git"
}
]
}
],
"cpeApplicability": [
{
"nodes": [
{
"cpeMatch": [
{
"criteria": "cpe:2.3:a:artifex:mupdf:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*",
"versionEndExcluding": "1.27.0",
"vulnerable": true
},
{
"criteria": "cpe:2.3:a:artifex:mupdf:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*",
"vulnerable": true
}
],
"negate": false,
"operator": "OR"
}
]
}
],
"credits": [
{
"lang": "en",
"type": "finder",
"value": "Niel Duysters"
}
],
"descriptions": [
{
"lang": "en",
"supportingMedia": [
{
"base64": false,
"type": "text/html",
"value": "\u003cp\u003eMuPDF before 1.27 contains an ANSI injection vulnerability in mutool that allows attackers to inject arbitrary ANSI escape sequences through crafted PDF metadata fields. Attackers can embed malicious ANSI escape codes in PDF metadata that are passed unsanitized to terminal output when running mutool info, enabling them to manipulate terminal display for social engineering attacks such as presenting fake prompts or spoofed commands.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c/p\u003e"
}
],
"value": "MuPDF before 1.27 contains an ANSI injection vulnerability in mutool that allows attackers to inject arbitrary ANSI escape sequences through crafted PDF metadata fields. Attackers can embed malicious ANSI escape codes in PDF metadata that are passed unsanitized to terminal output when running mutool info, enabling them to manipulate terminal display for social engineering attacks such as presenting fake prompts or spoofed commands."
}
],
"metrics": [
{
"cvssV4_0": {
"Automatable": "NOT_DEFINED",
"Recovery": "NOT_DEFINED",
"Safety": "NOT_DEFINED",
"attackComplexity": "LOW",
"attackRequirements": "NONE",
"attackVector": "LOCAL",
"baseScore": 4.8,
"baseSeverity": "MEDIUM",
"exploitMaturity": "NOT_DEFINED",
"privilegesRequired": "NONE",
"providerUrgency": "NOT_DEFINED",
"subAvailabilityImpact": "NONE",
"subConfidentialityImpact": "NONE",
"subIntegrityImpact": "NONE",
"userInteraction": "PASSIVE",
"valueDensity": "NOT_DEFINED",
"vectorString": "CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:P/VC:N/VI:L/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N",
"version": "4.0",
"vulnAvailabilityImpact": "NONE",
"vulnConfidentialityImpact": "NONE",
"vulnIntegrityImpact": "LOW",
"vulnerabilityResponseEffort": "NOT_DEFINED"
},
"format": "CVSS",
"scenarios": [
{
"lang": "en",
"value": "GENERAL"
}
]
},
{
"cvssV3_1": {
"attackComplexity": "LOW",
"attackVector": "LOCAL",
"availabilityImpact": "NONE",
"baseScore": 3.3,
"baseSeverity": "LOW",
"confidentialityImpact": "NONE",
"integrityImpact": "LOW",
"privilegesRequired": "NONE",
"scope": "UNCHANGED",
"userInteraction": "REQUIRED",
"vectorString": "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:N",
"version": "3.1"
},
"format": "CVSS",
"scenarios": [
{
"lang": "en",
"value": "GENERAL"
}
]
}
],
"problemTypes": [
{
"descriptions": [
{
"cweId": "CWE-150",
"description": "CWE-150 Improper Neutralization of Escape, Meta, or Control Sequences",
"lang": "en",
"type": "CWE"
}
]
}
],
"providerMetadata": {
"dateUpdated": "2026-07-14T20:00:27.664Z",
"orgId": "83251b91-4cc7-4094-a5c7-464a1b83ea10",
"shortName": "VulnCheck"
},
"references": [
{
"tags": [
"release-notes"
],
"url": "https://github.com/ArtifexSoftware/mupdf/releases/tag/1.27.0"
},
{
"tags": [
"patch"
],
"url": "https://github.com/ArtifexSoftware/mupdf/commit/0f17d789fe8c29b41e47663be82514aaca3a4dfb"
},
{
"tags": [
"issue-tracking"
],
"url": "https://cgit.ghostscript.com/cgi-bin/cgit.cgi/mupdf.git/commit/?id=0f17d789fe8c29b41e47663be82514aaca3a4dfb"
},
{
"tags": [
"third-party-advisory"
],
"url": "https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/mupdf-mutool-ansi-injection-via-metadata"
}
],
"source": {
"discovery": "EXTERNAL"
},
"title": "MuPDF \u003c 1.27 mutool ANSI Injection via Metadata",
"x_generator": {
"engine": "Vulnogram 1.0.1"
}
}
},
"cveMetadata": {
"assignerOrgId": "83251b91-4cc7-4094-a5c7-464a1b83ea10",
"assignerShortName": "VulnCheck",
"cveId": "CVE-2026-40505",
"datePublished": "2026-04-16T01:20:08.397Z",
"dateReserved": "2026-04-13T20:29:02.808Z",
"dateUpdated": "2026-07-14T20:00:27.664Z",
"state": "PUBLISHED"
},
"dataType": "CVE_RECORD",
"dataVersion": "5.2",
"vulnerability-lookup:meta": {
"epss": {
"cve": "CVE-2026-40505",
"date": "2026-10-28",
"epss": "0.00166",
"percentile": "0.05833"
},
"nvd": {
"cve": {
"affected": [
{
"affectedData": [
{
"defaultStatus": "unaffected",
"product": "MuPDF",
"vendor": "Artifex Software Inc.",
"versions": [
{
"lessThan": "1.27.0",
"status": "affected",
"version": "0",
"versionType": "semver"
},
{
"status": "affected",
"version": "0f17d789fe8c29b41e47663be82514aaca3a4dfb",
"versionType": "git"
}
]
}
],
"source": "disclosure@vulncheck.com"
}
],
"configurations": [
{
"nodes": [
{
"cpeMatch": [
{
"criteria": "cpe:2.3:a:artifex:mupdf:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*",
"matchCriteriaId": "4E4FF857-3159-4D6E-B8EE-B2E2C486BFE3",
"versionEndExcluding": "1.27.0",
"vulnerable": true
}
],
"negate": false,
"operator": "OR"
}
]
}
],
"cveTags": [],
"descriptions": [
{
"lang": "en",
"value": "MuPDF before 1.27 contains an ANSI injection vulnerability in mutool that allows attackers to inject arbitrary ANSI escape sequences through crafted PDF metadata fields. Attackers can embed malicious ANSI escape codes in PDF metadata that are passed unsanitized to terminal output when running mutool info, enabling them to manipulate terminal display for social engineering attacks such as presenting fake prompts or spoofed commands."
},
{
"lang": "es",
"value": "MuPDF anterior a 1.27 contiene una vulnerabilidad de inyecci\u00f3n ANSI en mutool que permite a los atacantes inyectar secuencias de escape ANSI arbitrarias a trav\u00e9s de campos de metadatos PDF creados maliciosamente. Los atacantes pueden incrustar c\u00f3digos de escape ANSI maliciosos en los metadatos del PDF que se pasan sin sanear a la salida de la terminal al ejecutar mutool info, lo que les permite manipular la visualizaci\u00f3n de la terminal para ataques de ingenier\u00eda social, como presentar avisos falsos o comandos suplantados."
}
],
"id": "CVE-2026-40505",
"lastModified": "2026-10-26T21:10:00.170",
"metrics": {
"cvssMetricV31": [
{
"cvssData": {
"attackComplexity": "LOW",
"attackVector": "LOCAL",
"availabilityImpact": "NONE",
"baseScore": 3.3,
"baseSeverity": "LOW",
"confidentialityImpact": "NONE",
"integrityImpact": "LOW",
"privilegesRequired": "NONE",
"scope": "UNCHANGED",
"userInteraction": "REQUIRED",
"vectorString": "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:N",
"version": "3.1"
},
"exploitabilityScore": 1.8,
"impactScore": 1.4,
"source": "disclosure@vulncheck.com",
"type": "Secondary"
}
],
"cvssMetricV40": [
{
"cvssData": {
"Automatable": "NOT_DEFINED",
"Recovery": "NOT_DEFINED",
"Safety": "NOT_DEFINED",
"attackComplexity": "LOW",
"attackRequirements": "NONE",
"attackVector": "LOCAL",
"availabilityRequirement": "NOT_DEFINED",
"baseScore": 4.8,
"baseSeverity": "MEDIUM",
"confidentialityRequirement": "NOT_DEFINED",
"exploitMaturity": "NOT_DEFINED",
"integrityRequirement": "NOT_DEFINED",
"modifiedAttackComplexity": "NOT_DEFINED",
"modifiedAttackRequirements": "NOT_DEFINED",
"modifiedAttackVector": "NOT_DEFINED",
"modifiedPrivilegesRequired": "NOT_DEFINED",
"modifiedSubAvailabilityImpact": "NOT_DEFINED",
"modifiedSubConfidentialityImpact": "NOT_DEFINED",
"modifiedSubIntegrityImpact": "NOT_DEFINED",
"modifiedUserInteraction": "NOT_DEFINED",
"modifiedVulnAvailabilityImpact": "NOT_DEFINED",
"modifiedVulnConfidentialityImpact": "NOT_DEFINED",
"modifiedVulnIntegrityImpact": "NOT_DEFINED",
"privilegesRequired": "NONE",
"providerUrgency": "NOT_DEFINED",
"subAvailabilityImpact": "NONE",
"subConfidentialityImpact": "NONE",
"subIntegrityImpact": "NONE",
"userInteraction": "PASSIVE",
"valueDensity": "NOT_DEFINED",
"vectorString": "CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:P/VC:N/VI:L/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",
"version": "4.0",
"vulnAvailabilityImpact": "NONE",
"vulnConfidentialityImpact": "NONE",
"vulnIntegrityImpact": "LOW",
"vulnerabilityResponseEffort": "NOT_DEFINED"
},
"source": "disclosure@vulncheck.com",
"type": "Secondary"
}
],
"ssvcV203": [
{
"source": "134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0",
"ssvcData": {
"id": "CVE-2026-40505",
"options": [
{
"exploitation": "none"
},
{
"automatable": "no"
},
{
"technicalImpact": "partial"
}
],
"role": "CISA Coordinator",
"timestamp": "2026-04-16T13:53:13.801290Z",
"version": "2.0.3"
}
}
]
},
"published": "2026-04-16T02:16:11.887",
"references": [
{
"source": "disclosure@vulncheck.com",
"tags": [
"Patch"
],
"url": "https://cgit.ghostscript.com/cgi-bin/cgit.cgi/mupdf.git/commit/?id=0f17d789fe8c29b41e47663be82514aaca3a4dfb"
},
{
"source": "disclosure@vulncheck.com",
"tags": [
"Patch"
],
"url": "https://github.com/ArtifexSoftware/mupdf/commit/0f17d789fe8c29b41e47663be82514aaca3a4dfb"
},
{
"source": "disclosure@vulncheck.com",
"tags": [
"Product"
],
"url": "https://github.com/ArtifexSoftware/mupdf/releases/tag/1.27.0"
},
{
"source": "disclosure@vulncheck.com",
"tags": [
"Third Party Advisory"
],
"url": "https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/mupdf-mutool-ansi-injection-via-metadata"
}
],
"sourceIdentifier": "disclosure@vulncheck.com",
"vulnStatus": "Analyzed",
"weaknesses": [
{
"description": [
{
"lang": "en",
"value": "CWE-150"
}
],
"source": "disclosure@vulncheck.com",
"type": "Secondary"
}
]
}
},
"redhat_vex": {
"current_release_date": "2026-06-28T11:22:07+00:00",
"cve": "CVE-2026-40505",
"id": "CVE-2026-40505",
"initial_release_date": "2026-04-16T01:20:08.397000+00:00",
"product_status:known_not_affected": "1",
"source": "Red Hat CSAF VEX",
"status": "final",
"title": "MuPDF: MuPDF mutool: Terminal manipulation through unsanitized PDF metadata",
"url": "https://security.access.redhat.com/data/csaf/v2/vex/2026/cve-2026-40505.json",
"version": "3"
},
"vulnrichment": {
"containers": {
"adp": [
{
"metrics": [
{
"other": {
"content": {
"id": "CVE-2026-40505",
"options": [
{
"Exploitation": "none"
},
{
"Automatable": "no"
},
{
"Technical Impact": "partial"
}
],
"role": "CISA Coordinator",
"timestamp": "2026-04-16T13:53:13.801290Z",
"version": "2.0.3"
},
"type": "ssvc"
}
}
],
"providerMetadata": {
"dateUpdated": "2026-04-16T13:53:21.890Z",
"orgId": "134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0",
"shortName": "CISA-ADP"
},
"title": "CISA ADP Vulnrichment"
}
],
"cna": {
"affected": [
{
"defaultStatus": "unaffected",
"product": "MuPDF",
"vendor": "Artifex Software Inc.",
"versions": [
{
"lessThan": "1.27.0",
"status": "affected",
"version": "0",
"versionType": "semver"
},
{
"status": "affected",
"version": "0f17d789fe8c29b41e47663be82514aaca3a4dfb",
"versionType": "git"
}
]
}
],
"cpeApplicability": [
{
"nodes": [
{
"cpeMatch": [
{
"criteria": "cpe:2.3:a:artifex:mupdf:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*",
"versionEndExcluding": "1.27.0",
"vulnerable": true
},
{
"criteria": "cpe:2.3:a:artifex:mupdf:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*",
"vulnerable": true
}
],
"negate": false,
"operator": "OR"
}
]
}
],
"credits": [
{
"lang": "en",
"type": "finder",
"value": "Niel Duysters"
}
],
"descriptions": [
{
"lang": "en",
"supportingMedia": [
{
"base64": false,
"type": "text/html",
"value": "\u003cp\u003eMuPDF before 1.27 contains an ANSI injection vulnerability in mutool that allows attackers to inject arbitrary ANSI escape sequences through crafted PDF metadata fields. Attackers can embed malicious ANSI escape codes in PDF metadata that are passed unsanitized to terminal output when running mutool info, enabling them to manipulate terminal display for social engineering attacks such as presenting fake prompts or spoofed commands.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c/p\u003e"
}
],
"value": "MuPDF before 1.27 contains an ANSI injection vulnerability in mutool that allows attackers to inject arbitrary ANSI escape sequences through crafted PDF metadata fields. Attackers can embed malicious ANSI escape codes in PDF metadata that are passed unsanitized to terminal output when running mutool info, enabling them to manipulate terminal display for social engineering attacks such as presenting fake prompts or spoofed commands."
}
],
"metrics": [
{
"cvssV4_0": {
"Automatable": "NOT_DEFINED",
"Recovery": "NOT_DEFINED",
"Safety": "NOT_DEFINED",
"attackComplexity": "LOW",
"attackRequirements": "NONE",
"attackVector": "LOCAL",
"baseScore": 4.8,
"baseSeverity": "MEDIUM",
"exploitMaturity": "NOT_DEFINED",
"privilegesRequired": "NONE",
"providerUrgency": "NOT_DEFINED",
"subAvailabilityImpact": "NONE",
"subConfidentialityImpact": "NONE",
"subIntegrityImpact": "NONE",
"userInteraction": "PASSIVE",
"valueDensity": "NOT_DEFINED",
"vectorString": "CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:P/VC:N/VI:L/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N",
"version": "4.0",
"vulnAvailabilityImpact": "NONE",
"vulnConfidentialityImpact": "NONE",
"vulnIntegrityImpact": "LOW",
"vulnerabilityResponseEffort": "NOT_DEFINED"
},
"format": "CVSS",
"scenarios": [
{
"lang": "en",
"value": "GENERAL"
}
]
},
{
"cvssV3_1": {
"attackComplexity": "LOW",
"attackVector": "LOCAL",
"availabilityImpact": "NONE",
"baseScore": 3.3,
"baseSeverity": "LOW",
"confidentialityImpact": "NONE",
"integrityImpact": "LOW",
"privilegesRequired": "NONE",
"scope": "UNCHANGED",
"userInteraction": "REQUIRED",
"vectorString": "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:N",
"version": "3.1"
},
"format": "CVSS",
"scenarios": [
{
"lang": "en",
"value": "GENERAL"
}
]
}
],
"problemTypes": [
{
"descriptions": [
{
"cweId": "CWE-150",
"description": "CWE-150 Improper Neutralization of Escape, Meta, or Control Sequences",
"lang": "en",
"type": "CWE"
}
]
}
],
"providerMetadata": {
"dateUpdated": "2026-07-14T20:00:27.664Z",
"orgId": "83251b91-4cc7-4094-a5c7-464a1b83ea10",
"shortName": "VulnCheck"
},
"references": [
{
"tags": [
"release-notes"
],
"url": "https://github.com/ArtifexSoftware/mupdf/releases/tag/1.27.0"
},
{
"tags": [
"patch"
],
"url": "https://github.com/ArtifexSoftware/mupdf/commit/0f17d789fe8c29b41e47663be82514aaca3a4dfb"
},
{
"tags": [
"issue-tracking"
],
"url": "https://cgit.ghostscript.com/cgi-bin/cgit.cgi/mupdf.git/commit/?id=0f17d789fe8c29b41e47663be82514aaca3a4dfb"
},
{
"tags": [
"third-party-advisory"
],
"url": "https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/mupdf-mutool-ansi-injection-via-metadata"
}
],
"source": {
"discovery": "EXTERNAL"
},
"title": "MuPDF \u003c 1.27 mutool ANSI Injection via Metadata",
"x_generator": {
"engine": "Vulnogram 1.0.1"
}
}
},
"cveMetadata": {
"assignerOrgId": "83251b91-4cc7-4094-a5c7-464a1b83ea10",
"assignerShortName": "VulnCheck",
"cveId": "CVE-2026-40505",
"datePublished": "2026-04-16T01:20:08.397Z",
"dateReserved": "2026-04-13T20:29:02.808Z",
"dateUpdated": "2026-07-14T20:00:27.664Z",
"state": "PUBLISHED"
},
"dataType": "CVE_RECORD",
"dataVersion": "5.2"
}
}
}
Loading…
Loading…
Drag nodes to arrange them. Double-click a related vulnerability to open it, or a source to visit its link. The Physics button on the left tunes the layout and the simulation; the legend at the bottom left hides or shows nodes by kind and by sighting type.
Experimental. This forecast is provided for visualization only and may change without notice. Do not use it for operational decisions.
Forecast uses a logistic model when the trend is rising, or an exponential decay model when the trend is falling. Fitted via linearized least squares.
Sightings
| Author | Source | Type | Date | Other |
|---|
Nomenclature
- Seen: The vulnerability was mentioned, discussed, or observed by the user.
- Confirmed: The vulnerability has been validated from an analyst's perspective.
- Published Proof of Concept: A public proof of concept is available for this vulnerability.
- Exploited: The vulnerability was observed as exploited by the user who reported the sighting.
- Patched: The vulnerability was observed as successfully patched by the user who reported the sighting.
- Not exploited: The vulnerability was not observed as exploited by the user who reported the sighting.
- Not confirmed: The user expressed doubt about the validity of the vulnerability.
- Not patched: The vulnerability was not observed as successfully patched by the user who reported the sighting.
Vulnerability timeline
Sightings and recorded dates, grouped by day · UTC
Loading timeline…
Loading…
Loading…
The MITRE ATT&CK techniques below are AI-generated suggestions, inferred from the description of the
vulnerability by the CIRCL/vulnerability-attack-technique-classification-roberta-base
model, served locally by ML-Gateway.
They have not been verified by an analyst and are provided for guidance only.
The approach is described in our paper Mapping CVEs to MITRE ATT&CK Techniques: A Curated Gold-Set Classifier and the Limits of LLM-Assisted Label Expansion.
Browse all ATT&CK techniques and the vulnerabilities related to each.
The approach is described in our paper Mapping CVEs to MITRE ATT&CK Techniques: A Curated Gold-Set Classifier and the Limits of LLM-Assisted Label Expansion.
Browse all ATT&CK techniques and the vulnerabilities related to each.
Loading…
Related by attack behaviour
Vulnerabilities whose description is nearest to this one in the vector space of the CIRCL/vulnerability-attack-technique-biencoder model. This is a similarity search over the bi-encoder space (plain cosine), not a classification, and it has no measured accuracy.