Pypdf2: Prior to 6.14.0, an attacker can craft a PDF with declared image size values that are much too large compared
Affects pypdf2Source GCVE Database
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 6.9 Medium · fixed in 0.5.1_23 : update pypdf2 when convenient.
Data as of 26 Oct 2026, 10:12 UTC
- EPSS
- 0.5% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 43% of CVEsExploit Prediction Scoring System: the likelihood attackers will use this flaw soon.
- Affects
- pypdf2 prior to 6.14.0
- Patch
- Available – fixed in 0.5.1_23, 3.3.15_3
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:N/VI:N/VA:L/SC:N/SI:N/SA:NExploitation evidence
Disclosed: evidence found.
CVE published 8 Jul 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
Upgrade pdfly to 0.5.1_23; psutils to 3.3.15_3.
Affected software
| Product | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
Ubuntu Pro 16.04 LTSpypdf2pkg:deb/ubuntu/pypdf2?arch=source&distro=esm-apps/xenialOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu Pro 18.04 LTSpypdf2pkg:deb/ubuntu/pypdf2?arch=source&distro=esm-apps/bionicOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 20.04 LTSpypdf2pkg:deb/ubuntu/pypdf2?arch=source&distro=focalOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 22.04 LTSpypdf2pkg:deb/ubuntu/pypdf2?arch=source&distro=jammyOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 24.04 LTSpypdfpkg:deb/ubuntu/pypdf?arch=source&distro=nobleOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 24.04 LTSpypdf2pkg:deb/ubuntu/pypdf2?arch=source&distro=nobleOther 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
Upgrade to pypdf version 6.14.0 or later, where the vulnerability is fixed. If upgrading is not immediately possible, apply the changes from pull request #3888 as a workaround to mitigate the issue.
Description
CVE-2026-59938 is a vulnerability in pypdf2 versions prior to 6.14.0 where an attacker can craft a PDF with image size declarations that are much larger than the actual image data, causing excessive memory usage during processing. This issue has been fixed in pypdf version 6.14.0. A workaround is available by applying changes from pull request #3888 if immediate upgrading is not possible.
References
- ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2026-59938 (opens in a new tab)
- cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-59938 (opens in a new tab)
- github.com/py-pdf/pypdf/security/advisories/GHSA-5qjq-93h5-hrgp (opens in a new tab)
- github.com/py-pdf/pypdf/pull/3888 (opens in a new tab)
- nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-59938 (opens in a new tab)
- github.com/py-pdf/pypdf/commit/c64583be16b8e8763d8777075f8ecbf382014b7a (opens in a new tab)
- github.com/py-pdf/pypdf (opens in a new tab)
- github.com/py-pdf/pypdf/releases/tag/6.14.0 (opens in a new tab)