catdoc through 0.95 contains an out-of-bounds read vulnerability in copy_unicode_string() in src/xlsparse.c that
Affects catdocSource GCVE Database
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 6.1 Medium.
Data as of 28 Oct 2026, 23:45 UTC
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:HExploitation evidence
Disclosed: evidence found.
CVE published 15 Oct 2026
Detectable: no evidence on record.
No public nuclei template indexed
Weaponised: no evidence on record.
No public exploit code indexed in Metasploit or Exploit-DB
Exploited in the wildExploited: no evidence on record.
Not in CISA KEV and no source reports exploitation
Observed by OffSeq MirageSeen by Mirage: no evidence on record.
No attack traffic recorded by OffSeq Mirage sensors
A missing step is not evidence of safety. Sources: cve.org (opens in a new tab), the Metasploit, Exploit-DB and nuclei-templates index as of 26 Oct 2026.
What to do
Affected software
| Product | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
Ubuntu 26.10catdocpkg:deb/ubuntu/catdoc?arch=source&distro=stonkingOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 26.04 LTScatdocpkg:deb/ubuntu/catdoc?arch=source&distro=resoluteOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu Pro 24.04 LTScatdocpkg:deb/ubuntu/catdoc?arch=source&distro=esm-apps/nobleOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu Pro 22.04 LTScatdocpkg:deb/ubuntu/catdoc?arch=source&distro=esm-apps/jammyOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu Pro 20.04 LTScatdocpkg:deb/ubuntu/catdoc?arch=source&distro=esm-apps/focalOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu Pro 18.04 LTScatdocpkg:deb/ubuntu/catdoc?arch=source&distro=esm-apps/bionicOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Check your own hosts for these packages with threat-finder (opens in a new tab), our free open-source scanner.
AI-suggested
Until a fix is available, avoid processing untrusted .xls files with vulnerable versions of catdoc.
Description
catdoc versions through 0.95 contain an out-of-bounds read vulnerability in the copy_unicode_string() function within src/xlsparse.c. This flaw allows attackers to read memory beyond allocated buffers by supplying a crafted .xls file that declares an excessive number of two-byte characters in LABEL, STRING, or SST records. Exploitation can lead to memory disclosure via xls2csv output or cause the process to crash.
References
- ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2026-111127 (opens in a new tab)
- cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-111127 (opens in a new tab)
- github.com/vbwagner/catdoc (opens in a new tab)
- github.com/vbwagner/catdoc/blob/38a2807d22ce1a08bc39b94e9072a9f8f52cd86f/src/xlsparse.c (opens in a new tab)
- hackmd.io/@haind-pwn/catdoc-xls-mulrk-endcol-and-string-count-oob-read (opens in a new tab)
- vulncheck.com/advisories/catdoc-through-0.95-out-of-bounds-read-via-xls2csv-copy-unicode-string (opens in a new tab)