CVE-2026-16766: CWE-78 Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection') in RRWO Catalyst::View::Wkhtmltopdf
Catalyst::View::Wkhtmltopdf versions before 0.6.1 for Perl allow shell command injection (RCE) via PDF render options. Options are passed directly to the wkhtmltopdf command without sanitization. Any web application that passes user-controlled options such as the page_size, orientation or margins without validation allows shell command injection. Version 0.6.0 was released with an incomplete fix for this issue. Note that the wkhtmltopdf project is no longer being developed, and users of this package should migrate to alternative solutions.
AI Analysis
Technical Summary
CVE-2026-16766 is an OS command injection vulnerability (CWE-78) in Catalyst::View::Wkhtmltopdf versions prior to 0.6.1. The vulnerability arises from improper neutralization of special elements in user-controlled PDF render options such as page_size, orientation, or margins, which are passed directly to the wkhtmltopdf command line without validation or sanitization. This allows an attacker to execute arbitrary shell commands remotely. Version 0.6.0 attempted a partial fix but did not fully resolve the issue. The underlying wkhtmltopdf project is no longer maintained, and users are recommended to migrate to alternative PDF rendering solutions.
Potential Impact
Successful exploitation allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary OS commands with the privileges of the affected application, leading to full system compromise including confidentiality, integrity, and availability impacts. The vulnerability is remotely exploitable without authentication and requires no user interaction.
Mitigation Recommendations
No official fix or patch is currently available for this vulnerability. Version 0.6.0 contains an incomplete fix, and the recommended version to avoid the vulnerability is 0.6.1 or later; however, the project is no longer maintained. Users should migrate to alternative PDF rendering solutions that do not exhibit this vulnerability. Until migration, avoid passing user-controlled options directly to the wkhtmltopdf command or implement strict input validation and sanitization as a temporary mitigation.
CVE-2026-16766: CWE-78 Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection') in RRWO Catalyst::View::Wkhtmltopdf
Description
Catalyst::View::Wkhtmltopdf versions before 0.6.1 for Perl allow shell command injection (RCE) via PDF render options. Options are passed directly to the wkhtmltopdf command without sanitization. Any web application that passes user-controlled options such as the page_size, orientation or margins without validation allows shell command injection. Version 0.6.0 was released with an incomplete fix for this issue. Note that the wkhtmltopdf project is no longer being developed, and users of this package should migrate to alternative solutions.
CVSS v3.1
Score 9.8critical
Affected software
pkg:github/Catalyst-View-WkhtmltopdfRun on your own infrastructure? Check whether these packages are installed with threat-finder — our free open-source scanner.
Weaknesses
AI-Powered Analysis
Machine-generated threat intelligence
Technical Analysis
CVE-2026-16766 is an OS command injection vulnerability (CWE-78) in Catalyst::View::Wkhtmltopdf versions prior to 0.6.1. The vulnerability arises from improper neutralization of special elements in user-controlled PDF render options such as page_size, orientation, or margins, which are passed directly to the wkhtmltopdf command line without validation or sanitization. This allows an attacker to execute arbitrary shell commands remotely. Version 0.6.0 attempted a partial fix but did not fully resolve the issue. The underlying wkhtmltopdf project is no longer maintained, and users are recommended to migrate to alternative PDF rendering solutions.
Potential Impact
Successful exploitation allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary OS commands with the privileges of the affected application, leading to full system compromise including confidentiality, integrity, and availability impacts. The vulnerability is remotely exploitable without authentication and requires no user interaction.
Mitigation Recommendations
No official fix or patch is currently available for this vulnerability. Version 0.6.0 contains an incomplete fix, and the recommended version to avoid the vulnerability is 0.6.1 or later; however, the project is no longer maintained. Users should migrate to alternative PDF rendering solutions that do not exhibit this vulnerability. Until migration, avoid passing user-controlled options directly to the wkhtmltopdf command or implement strict input validation and sanitization as a temporary mitigation.
Technical Details
- Data Version
- 5.2
- Assigner Short Name
- CPANSec
- Date Reserved
- 2026-07-23T14:17:40.588Z
- Cvss Version
- null
- State
- PUBLISHED
- Remediation Level
- null
Threat ID: 6a6475dc9c2644c7f8160fd5
Added to database: 07/25/2026, 08:37:48 UTC
Last enriched: 08/13/2026, 13:11:21 UTC
Last updated: 09/07/2026, 18:00:40 UTC
Views: 199
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