CVE-2023-46250: pypdf possible Infinite Loop when PdfWriter(clone_from) is used with a PDF
Impact An attacker who uses this vulnerability can craft a PDF which leads to an infinite loop. This infinite loop blocks the current process and can utilize a single core of the CPU by 100%. It does not affect memory usage.
That is, for example, the case when the pypdf-user manipulates an incoming malicious PDF e.g. by merging it with another PDF or by adding annotations.
Patches The issue was fixed with #2264
Workarounds If you cannot update your version of pypdf, you should modify pypdf/generic/datastructures.py just like #2264 did.
Other sources
pypdf is a free and open-source pure-python PDF library. An attacker who uses a vulnerability present in versions 3.7.0 through 3.16.4 can craft a PDF which leads to an infinite loop. This infinite loop blocks the current process and can utilize a single core of the CPU by 100%. It does not affect memory usage. That is, for example, the case when the pypdf-user manipulates an incoming malicious PDF e.g. by merging it with another PDF or by adding annotations. The issue was fixed in version 3.17.0. As a workaround, apply the patch manually by modifying pypdf/generic/datastructures.py.
Affected Software
Remediation
Patch Available
Event History
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the vulnerability ID of this vulnerability?
The vulnerability ID of this vulnerability is CVE-2023-46250.
What is the title of this vulnerability?
The title of this vulnerability is 'pypdf possible Infinite Loop when PdfWriter(clone_from) is used with a PDF'.
What is the severity of CVE-2023-46250?
The severity of CVE-2023-46250 is medium with a CVSS score of 5.1.
What software does CVE-2023-46250 affect?
CVE-2023-46250 affects the pypdf library versions 3.7.0 through 3.16.4.
How can I fix CVE-2023-46250?
To fix CVE-2023-46250, update the pypdf library to version 3.17.0 or newer.