CVE-2026-16770: PDF::WebKit versions through 1.2 for Perl allow argument injection into wkhtmltopdf via meta tags in the source document
PDF::WebKit versions through 1.2 for Perl allow argument injection into wkhtmltopdf via meta tags in the source document.
For an HTML string or file source, the constructor collects every <meta name="pdf-webkit-KEY" content="VALUE"> element in the document head through pdfwebkitmetatags and turns each one into a wkhtmltopdf command line option. KEY is normalized to an option name matching --[a-z0-9-]+ but is not checked against an allow list, VALUE is passed through unchanged as the argument that follows it, and a VALUE of "yes" emits the option as a bare flag. BUILD merges the meta derived options last, so they also override the module defaults and the options passed to new. Switches such as --enable-local-file-access and --cookie-jar are reachable this way. The renderer is executed with an argument list rather than a shell command, so this is argument injection and not shell injection.
Any caller that renders untrusted HTML lets the document choose the renderer's options and override those set by the application, including options that read local files into the resulting PDF or write to a chosen path. A URL source is not scanned, and the scan is skipped when XML::LibXML, a recommended dependency, is not installed.
Affected Software
Event History
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the severity of CVE-2026-16770?
CVE-2026-16770 has a risk score of 65, indicating a medium severity vulnerability.
How do I fix CVE-2026-16770?
To fix CVE-2026-16770, upgrade to the latest version of PDF::WebKit that addresses this vulnerability.
What software is affected by CVE-2026-16770?
CVE-2026-16770 affects PDF::WebKit versions through 1.2 for Perl.
What type of vulnerability is CVE-2026-16770?
CVE-2026-16770 is an argument injection vulnerability that allows manipulation via meta tags.
What impact does CVE-2026-16770 have on applications?
CVE-2026-16770 can lead to unintended command execution within the wkhtmltopdf tool when processing HTML documents.