CVE-2026-42589: Gotenberg: Unauthenticated RCE via ExifTool Metadata Key Injection

Vulnerability summary

CVE-2026-42589 is a critical (CVSS 9.8) vulnerability in gotenberg. EPSS estimates a 3.01% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days, higher than 87.4% of scored vulnerabilities. 1 public exploit is recorded.

Timeline

1. 14-05-2026
   PublishedVulnerability first disclosed.
2. 14-05-2026
   Last modifiedVulnerability information updated.

Description

Gotenberg is a Docker-powered stateless API for PDF files. Prior to 8.31.0, Gotenberg's /forms/pdfengines/metadata/write HTTP endpoint accepts a JSON metadata object and passes its keys directly to ExifTool via the go-exiftool library. No validation is performed on key characters. A \n embedded in a JSON key splits the ExifTool stdin stream into a new argument line, allowing an attacker to inject arbitrary ExifTool flags — including -if, which evaluates Perl expressions. This achieves unauthenticated OS command execution in a single HTTP request. The response is HTTP 200 with a valid PDF, making the attack transparent to basic monitoring. This vulnerability is fixed in 8.31.0.

• CWE-78Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS CommandThe product constructs all or part of an OS command using externally-influenced input from an upstream component, but it does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes special elements that could modify the intended OS command before it is sent to a downstream component.