Public vulnerability disclosure

Open

CVE-2026-119208

pypdf: Possible long runtimes/large memory usage for encrypted PDF files

publishedCWE-400

pypdf is a free and open-source pure-python PDF library. Prior to 6.21.3, pypdf can consume excessive time and memory when an application accesses the page count of a crafted encrypted PDF whose page tree declares a forged /Count value. Even after successful decryption, page-count retrieval trusts the unvalidated declared count instead of walking the page tree, allowing the attacker-controlled value to drive excessive work and memory use. This issue is fixed in version 6.21.3.

Technical severity7.1 highCVSS 4.0 · CNA: GitHub_M

Published2026-10-29Source updated 2026-11-04

Collected2026-11-045 attributed sources

Fixes and workarounds

Fix

The reporting source identifies this reference as a patch. Check the advisory for affected versions and supported release branches.

Source: [email protected]

Fix

The reporting source identifies this reference as a patch. Check the advisory for affected versions and supported release branches.

Source: [email protected]

Fix

The reporting source identifies this reference as a patch. Check the advisory for affected versions and supported release branches.

Source: [email protected]

Fix

pypdf (pip): GitHub reports patched versions >= 6.21.3. Check the advisory for the affected release branch.

Source: GitHub GHSA-62m5-6wh8-28x7

Fix

pypdf (PyPI): OSV reports a fixed version 6.21.3. Check the advisory for supported release branches.

Source: OSV GHSA-62m5-6wh8-28x7

Affected products and versions

Affected products, source version ranges and reporting authorities
Product	Versions	Authority
pypdf py-pdf	< 6.21.3 (affected)	CNA: GitHub_M
pypdf `pypdf` pip	< 6.21.3 (affected, GitHub advisory range)	GitHub GHSA-62m5-6wh8-28x7
pypdf `pypdf` PyPI	1.0 (affected, PyPI) 1.1 (affected, PyPI) 1.10 (affected, PyPI) 1.11 (affected, PyPI) 1.12 (affected, PyPI) 1.13 (affected, PyPI) 1.2 (affected, PyPI) 1.3 (affected, PyPI) 1.4 (affected, PyPI) 1.5 (affected, PyPI) 1.6 (affected, PyPI) 1.7 (affected, PyPI) 1.8 (affected, PyPI) 1.9 (affected, PyPI) 3.1.0 (affected, PyPI) 3.10.0 (affected, PyPI) 3.11.0 (affected, PyPI) 3.11.1 (affected, PyPI) 3.12.0 (affected, PyPI) 3.12.1 (affected, PyPI) 3.12.2 (affected, PyPI) 3.13.0 (affected, PyPI) 3.14.0 (affected, PyPI) 3.15.0 (affected, PyPI) 3.15.1 (affected, PyPI) 3.15.2 (affected, PyPI) 3.15.3 (affected, PyPI) 3.15.4 (affected, PyPI) 3.15.5 (affected, PyPI) 3.16.0 (affected, PyPI) 3.16.1 (affected, PyPI) 3.16.2 (affected, PyPI) 3.16.3 (affected, PyPI) 3.16.4 (affected, PyPI) 3.17.0 (affected, PyPI) 3.17.1 (affected, PyPI) 3.17.2 (affected, PyPI) 3.17.3 (affected, PyPI) 3.17.4 (affected, PyPI) 3.2.0 (affected, PyPI) 3.2.1 (affected, PyPI) 3.3.0 (affected, PyPI) 3.4.0 (affected, PyPI) 3.4.1 (affected, PyPI) 3.5.0 (affected, PyPI) 3.5.1 (affected, PyPI) 3.5.2 (affected, PyPI) 3.6.0 (affected, PyPI) 3.7.0 (affected, PyPI) 3.7.1 (affected, PyPI) 3.8.0 (affected, PyPI) 3.8.1 (affected, PyPI) 3.9.0 (affected, PyPI) 3.9.1 (affected, PyPI) 4.0.0 (affected, PyPI) 4.0.1 (affected, PyPI) 4.0.2 (affected, PyPI) 4.1.0 (affected, PyPI) 4.2.0 (affected, PyPI) 4.3.0 (affected, PyPI) 4.3.1 (affected, PyPI) 5.0.0 (affected, PyPI) 5.0.1 (affected, PyPI) 5.1.0 (affected, PyPI) 5.2.0 (affected, PyPI) 5.3.0 (affected, PyPI) 5.3.1 (affected, PyPI) 5.4.0 (affected, PyPI) 5.5.0 (affected, PyPI) 5.6.0 (affected, PyPI) 5.6.1 (affected, PyPI) 5.7.0 (affected, PyPI) 5.8.0 (affected, PyPI) 5.9.0 (affected, PyPI) 6.0.0 (affected, PyPI) 6.1.0 (affected, PyPI) 6.1.1 (affected, PyPI) 6.1.2 (affected, PyPI) 6.1.3 (affected, PyPI) 6.10.0 (affected, PyPI) 6.10.1 (affected, PyPI) 6.10.2 (affected, PyPI) 6.11.0 (affected, PyPI) 6.12.0 (affected, PyPI) 6.12.1 (affected, PyPI) 6.12.2 (affected, PyPI) 6.13.0 (affected, PyPI) 6.13.1 (affected, PyPI) 6.13.2 (affected, PyPI) 6.13.3 (affected, PyPI) 6.14.0 (affected, PyPI) 6.14.1 (affected, PyPI) 6.14.2 (affected, PyPI) 6.15.0 (affected, PyPI) 6.16.0 (affected, PyPI) 6.16.1 (affected, PyPI) 6.16.2 (affected, PyPI) 6.17.0 (affected, PyPI) 6.18.0 (affected, PyPI) 6.18.1 (affected, PyPI) 6.19.0 (affected, PyPI) 6.2.0 (affected, PyPI) 6.20.0 (affected, PyPI) 6.20.1 (affected, PyPI) 6.21.0 (affected, PyPI) 6.21.1 (affected, PyPI) 6.21.2 (affected, PyPI) 6.3.0 (affected, PyPI) 6.4.0 (affected, PyPI) 6.4.1 (affected, PyPI) 6.4.2 (affected, PyPI) 6.5.0 (affected, PyPI) 6.6.0 (affected, PyPI) 6.6.1 (affected, PyPI) 6.6.2 (affected, PyPI) 6.7.0 (affected, PyPI) 6.7.1 (affected, PyPI) 6.7.2 (affected, PyPI) 6.7.3 (affected, PyPI) 6.7.4 (affected, PyPI) 6.7.5 (affected, PyPI) 6.8.0 (affected, PyPI) 6.9.0 (affected, PyPI) 6.9.1 (affected, PyPI) 6.9.2 (affected, PyPI) Ecosystem version events: introduced 0; fixed 6.21.3 Source events (ECOSYSTEM) `[ { "introduced": "0" }, { "fixed": "6.21.3" } ]` Other versions: unaffected	OSV GHSA-62m5-6wh8-28x7

Version ranges are source assertions. Check the vendor advisory and your installed configuration before determining exposure.

NVD applicability configurations (1)

These expressions retain AND/OR operators, negation, and required environmental products. A listed product is not sufficient to establish exposure when additional conditions apply.

[
  {
    "negate": false,
    "nodes": [
      {
        "cpeMatch": [
          {
            "criteria": "cpe:2.3:a:py-pdf:pypdf:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*",
            "versionEndExcluding": "6.21.3",
            "vulnerable": true
          }
        ],
        "negate": false,
        "operator": "OR"
      }
    ],
    "operator": "OR"
  }
]

CVSS assessments

CVSS scores, vectors and reporting authorities
Version / score	Vector	Authority
4.0 / 7.1 high	`CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:P/VC:N/VI:N/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N`	CNA: GitHub_M
4.0 / 7.1 high	`CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:P/VC:N/VI:N/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:X/CR:X/IR:X/AR:X/MAV:X/MAC:X/MAT:X/MPR:X/MUI:X/MVC:X/MVI:X/MVA:X/MSC:X/MSI:X/MSA:X/S:X/AU:X/R:X/V:X/RE:X/U:X`	NVD: [email protected]
3.1 / 5.5 medium	`CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H`	NVD: [email protected]

Exploit evidence

No exploit evidence in collected sources. This is not proof of no exploitation.

References

https://github.com/py-pdf/pypdf/security/advisories/GHSA-62m5-6wh8-28x7CNA: GitHub_M · x_refsource_CONFIRM
https://github.com/py-pdf/pypdf/pull/4270CNA: GitHub_M · x_refsource_MISC
https://github.com/py-pdf/pypdf/commit/82b91951dc74496bb3efe6465434f041bb6a5e6bCNA: GitHub_M · x_refsource_MISC
https://github.com/py-pdf/pypdf/releases/tag/6.21.3CNA: GitHub_M · x_refsource_MISC
https://github.com/py-pdf/pypdf/commit/82b91951dc74496bb3efe6465434f041bb6a5e6b[email protected] · Patch
https://github.com/py-pdf/pypdf/pull/4270[email protected] · Patch
https://github.com/py-pdf/pypdf/releases/tag/6.21.3[email protected] · Release Notes
https://github.com/py-pdf/pypdf/security/advisories/GHSA-62m5-6wh8-28x7[email protected] · Patch, Vendor Advisory
https://github.com/py-pdf/pypdf/security/advisories/GHSA-62m5-6wh8-28x7GitHub Security Advisories · advisory
https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-62m5-6wh8-28x7OSV / GitHub Security Advisories · advisory
https://osv.dev/vulnerability/GHSA-62m5-6wh8-28x7OSV / GitHub Security Advisories · osv

Prioritization

CISA known exploited vulnerabilities

No KEV listing in collected sources. This does not establish that exploitation is absent.

EPSS

0.22% estimated probability of exploitation in the next 30 days; percentile 12.70.
Assessed 2026-11-03 by FIRST.

SSVC

Exploitation: none
Automatable: no
Technical impact: partial

ADP: CISA-ADP · 2026-11-04

Provenance

CNA: GitHub_M
Source updated 2026-11-04
Retrieved 2026-11-04

NVD
Source updated 2026-11-02
Retrieved 2026-11-02

GitHub Security Advisories
Source updated 2026-10-29
Retrieved 2026-11-03

OSV / GitHub Security Advisories
Source updated 2026-10-30
Retrieved 2026-11-02

FIRST EPSS
Source updated Not reported
Retrieved 2026-11-04

Disclosure revision
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