CVE-2023-36807
mediumpriority · track · 26EPSS 0.006 · 47 %ileEURUUSEPSS · scored 2026-10-28
pypdf is a pure-python PDF library capable of splitting, merging, cropping, and transforming the pages of PDF files. In version 2.10.5 an attacker who uses this vulnerability 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 if the user extracted metadata from such a malformed PDF. Versions prior to 2.10.5 throw an error, but do not hang forever. This issue was fixed with https://github.com/py-pdf/pypdf/pull/1331 which has been included in release 2.10.6. Users are advised to upgrade. Users unable to upgrade should modify `PyPDF2/generic/_data_structures.py::read_object` to an an error throwing case. See GHSA-hm9v-vj3r-r55m for details.
cvss
Technical severity, 0–10. One row per scoring source.
base score 0–10 · higher = more severe · hover a vector to decode
ssvc
A stakeholder decision — act, attend, or track — from exploitation and impact.
weaknesses
The CWE weakness classes this flaw belongs to.
affected products (9)
Products and version ranges known to be affected.
advisories (2)
Vendor and ecosystem advisories describing this.
- GHSA-hm9v-vj3r-r55mPyPDF2 vulnerable to possible Infinite Loop when reading malformed objects2023-06-30ghsa · osvUS
### Impact An attacker who uses this vulnerability 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 if the user extracted metadata from such a malformed PDF. ### Patches The issue was fixed with https://github.com/py-pdf/pypdf/pull/1331 ### Workarounds If you cannot update your version of `PyPDF2` (preferably to `pypdf>3.1.0` as PyPDF2 is deprecated), you should modify `PyPDF2/generic/_data_structures.py::read_object`. Replace: ```python else: # number object OR indirect reference peek = stream.read(20) stream.seek(-len(peek), 1) # reset to start if IndirectPattern.match(peek) is not None: return IndirectObject.read_from_stream(stream, pdf) else: return NumberObject.read_from_stream(stream) ``` by ```python elif tok in b"0123456789+-.": # number object OR indirect reference peek = stream.read(20) stream.seek(-len(peek), 1) # reset to start if IndirectPattern.match(peek) is not None: return IndirectObject.read_from_stream(stream, pdf) else: return NumberObject.read_from_stream(stream) else: raise PdfReadError( f"Invalid Elementary Object starting with {tok} @{stream.tell()}" ) ``` ### References * [pypdf issue #1329](https://github.com/py-pdf/pypdf/issues/1329) * [pypdf PR #1331](https://github.com/py-pdf/pypdf/pull/1331)
- PYSEC-2026-1836PyPDF2 vulnerable to possible Infinite Loop when reading malformed objects2026-07-07vendor · osvUS
### Impact An attacker who uses this vulnerability 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 if the user extracted metadata from such a malformed PDF. ### Patches The issue was fixed with https://github.com/py-pdf/pypdf/pull/1331 ### Workarounds If you cannot update your version of `PyPDF2` (preferably to `pypdf>3.1.0` as PyPDF2 is deprecated), you should modify `PyPDF2/generic/_data_structures.py::read_object`. Replace: ```python else: # number object OR indirect reference peek = stream.read(20) stream.seek(-len(peek), 1) # reset to start if IndirectPattern.match(peek) is not None: return IndirectObject.read_from_stream(stream, pdf) else: return NumberObject.read_from_stream(stream) ``` by ```python elif tok in b"0123456789+-.": # number object OR indirect reference peek = stream.read(20) stream.seek(-len(peek), 1) # reset to start if IndirectPattern.match(peek) is not None: return IndirectObject.read_from_stream(stream, pdf) else: return NumberObject.read_from_stream(stream) else: raise PdfReadError( f"Invalid Elementary Object starting with {tok} @{stream.tell()}" ) ``` ### References * [pypdf issue #1329](https://github.com/py-pdf/pypdf/issues/1329) * [pypdf PR #1331](https://github.com/py-pdf/pypdf/pull/1331)
also known as (7)
Other names and identifiers for this entity.
sources
Which sources assert this record, and when.
references (10)
External citations — patches, advisories, analysis.
- https://cxsecurity.com/cveshow/CVE-2023-36807/cnnvd
- https://github.com/py-pdf/pypdf/issues/1329cnnvd
- https://github.com/py-pdf/pypdf/pull/1331cnnvd
- https://github.com/py-pdf/pypdf/security/advisories/GHSA-hm9v-vj3r-r55mcnnvd
- https://github.com/py-pdf/pypdf/issues/1329enisa_euvd
- https://github.com/py-pdf/pypdf/pull/1331enisa_euvd
- https://github.com/py-pdf/pypdf/security/advisories/GHSA-hm9v-vj3r-r55menisa_euvd
- https://github.com/py-pdf/pypdf/issues/1329ExploitIssue TrackingVendor Advisorynvd
Attackers weaponise vulnerabilities like this against internet-exposed services. See what is exposed on your perimeter with a free passive scan.
Free scan