CVE-2026-102998
pypdf: Possible long runtimes when generating appearance streams
pypdf is a free and open-source pure-python PDF library. Prior to 6.19.0, a crafted PDF with form field values can cause pypdf/generic/_appearance_stream.py appearance-stream generation to repeat invariant selection-data work inside a loop when an application updates fields with flattening enabled, resulting in excessive runtimes and application unavailability. This issue is fixed in version 6.19.0.
Attack profile
How easy it is to exploit
- Attack vector
- Network
- Complexity
- Low
- Privileges needed
- None
- User interaction
- None
What an attacker can affect
- Confidentiality
- None
- Integrity
- None
- Availability
- High
Exploit likelihood
What each source reports
CVE List Score used
pypdf: Possible long runtimes when generating appearance streams
pypdf is a free and open-source pure-python PDF library. Prior to 6.19.0, a crafted PDF with form field values can cause pypdf/generic/_appearance_stream.py appearance-stream generation to repeat invariant selection-data work inside a loop when an application updates fields with flattening enabled, resulting in excessive runtimes and application unavailability. This issue is fixed in version 6.19.0.
- Record
CVE-2026-102998- CVSS 4.0
- 8.7 High
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:N/VI:N/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N - Weakness
- CWE-400
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
EUVDEUVD-2026-90384
pypdf is a free and open-source pure-python PDF library. Prior to 6.19.0, a crafted PDF with form field values can cause pypdf/generic/_appearance_stream.py appearance-stream generation to repeat invariant selection-data work inside a loop when an application updates fields with flattening enabled, resulting in excessive runtimes and application unavailability. This issue is fixed in version 6.19.0.
- Record
EUVD-2026-90384- CVSS 4.0
- 8.7 High
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:N/VI:N/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N - Updated
- 2026-11-02
GitHub AdvisoriesGHSA-php9-fj8v-98fj
pypdf: Possible long runtimes when generating appearance streams
Impact
An attacker who uses this vulnerability can craft a PDF which leads to long runtimes. This requires updating form field values with flattening enabled, which triggers appearance stream generation.
Patches
This has been fixed in pypdf==6.19.0.
Workarounds
If you cannot upgrade yet, consider applying the changes from PR #4087.
- Record
GHSA-php9-fj8v-98fj- CVSS 4.0
- 8.7 High
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:N/VI:N/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N - Weakness
- CWE-400
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
NVD
pypdf is a free and open-source pure-python PDF library. Prior to 6.19.0, a crafted PDF with form field values can cause pypdf/generic/_appearance_stream.py appearance-stream generation to repeat invariant selection-data work inside a loop when an application updates fields with flattening enabled, resulting in excessive runtimes and application unavailability. This issue is fixed in version 6.19.0.
- Record
CVE-2026-102998- CVSS 4.0
- 8.7 High
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/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 - CVSS 3.1
- 7.5 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H - Weakness
- CWE-400
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSV
pypdf: Possible long runtimes when generating appearance streams
pypdf is a free and open-source pure-python PDF library. Prior to 6.19.0, a crafted PDF with form field values can cause pypdf/generic/_appearance_stream.py appearance-stream generation to repeat invariant selection-data work inside a loop when an application updates fields with flattening enabled, resulting in excessive runtimes and application unavailability. This issue is fixed in version 6.19.0.
- Record
CVE-2026-102998- CVSS 4.0
- 8.7 High
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:N/VI:N/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N - Weakness
- CWE-400
- Updated
- 2026-11-04
OSVDEBIAN-CVE-2026-102998
pypdf is a free and open-source pure-python PDF library. Prior to 6.19.0, a crafted PDF with form field values can cause pypdf/generic/_appearance_stream.py appearance-stream generation to repeat invariant selection-data work inside a loop when an application updates fields with flattening enabled, resulting in excessive runtimes and application unavailability. This issue is fixed in version 6.19.0.
- Record
DEBIAN-CVE-2026-102998- CVSS 3.1
- 7.5 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H - Updated
- 2026-11-03
Show 5 moreShow less
OSVGHSA-php9-fj8v-98fj
pypdf: Possible long runtimes when generating appearance streams
Impact
An attacker who uses this vulnerability can craft a PDF which leads to long runtimes. This requires updating form field values with flattening enabled, which triggers appearance stream generation.
Patches
This has been fixed in pypdf==6.19.0.
Workarounds
If you cannot upgrade yet, consider applying the changes from PR #4087.
- Record
GHSA-php9-fj8v-98fj- CVSS 4.0
- 8.7 High
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:N/VI:N/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N - Weakness
- CWE-400
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVPYSEC-2026-4157
pypdf: Possible long runtimes when generating appearance streams
Impact
An attacker who uses this vulnerability can craft a PDF which leads to long runtimes. This requires updating form field values with flattening enabled, which triggers appearance stream generation.
Patches
This has been fixed in pypdf==6.19.0.
Workarounds
If you cannot upgrade yet, consider applying the changes from PR #4087.
- Record
PYSEC-2026-4157- CVSS 4.0
- 8.7 High
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:N/VI:N/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N - Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVUBUNTU-CVE-2026-102998
pypdf is a free and open-source pure-python PDF library. Prior to 6.19.0, a crafted PDF with form field values can cause pypdf/generic/_appearance_stream.py appearance-stream generation to repeat invariant selection-data work inside a loop when an application updates fields with flattening enabled, resulting in excessive runtimes and application unavailability. This issue is fixed in version 6.19.0.
- Record
UBUNTU-CVE-2026-102998- CVSS 4.0
- 8.7 High
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:N/VI:N/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N - CVSS 3.1
- 7.5 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H - Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVCLSA-2026-1791267859 No score
TuxCare security update for pypdf (5 CVEs)
TuxCare rebuilt pypdf to address 5 CVEs. Fixed in 5.9.0.post18+tuxcare.
- Record
CLSA-2026-1791267859- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVROOT-APP-PYPI-CVE-2026-102998 No score
CVE-2026-102998 in pypdf - Patched by Root
Root has patched CVE-2026-102998 in the pypdf package for Root:PyPI. Multiple fixed versions available.
- Record
ROOT-APP-PYPI-CVE-2026-102998- Updated
- 2026-11-02
Affected products
Affected packages
| Package | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|
pypdfPyPI |
before 6.19.0 | 6.19.0 |
pypdfTuxCare:PyPI From an advisory covering 5 CVEs |
5.9.0 up to 5.9.0.post18+tuxcare, plus listed versions 5.9.0.post1+tuxcare5.9.0.post10+tuxcare5.9.0.post11+tuxcare5.9.0.post12+tuxcare5.9.0.post13+tuxcare Show 12 moreShow less5.9.0.post14+tuxcare5.9.0.post15+tuxcare5.9.0.post16+tuxcare5.9.0.post17+tuxcare5.9.0.post2+tuxcare5.9.0.post3+tuxcare5.9.0.post4+tuxcare5.9.0.post5+tuxcare5.9.0.post6+tuxcare5.9.0.post7+tuxcare5.9.0.post8+tuxcare5.9.0.post9+tuxcare |
5.9.0.post18+tuxcare |
pypdfDebian:13 |
All versions, plus listed versions 5.4.0-16.19.0-16.21.0-16.21.1-16.21.4-16.9.0-16.9.2-16.9.2-2 |
None known |
pypdfDebian:14 |
before 6.19.0-1, plus listed versions 5.4.0-16.9.0-16.9.2-16.9.2-2 |
6.19.0-1 |
pypdfPyPI |
before 6.19.0, plus listed versions 1.01.11.101.111.12 Show 45 moreShow less1.131.21.31.41.51.61.71.81.93.1.03.10.03.11.03.11.13.12.03.12.13.12.23.13.03.14.03.15.03.15.13.15.23.15.33.15.43.15.53.16.03.16.13.16.23.16.33.16.43.17.03.17.13.17.23.17.33.17.43.2.03.2.13.3.03.4.03.4.13.5.03.5.13.5.23.6.03.7.03.7.1 |
6.19.0 |
pypdfRoot:PyPI |
before 6.16.1+aikido.1 | 6.16.1+aikido.16.16.2+aikido.16.16.2+aikido.26.16.2+aikido.36.16.2+aikido.46.16.2+aikido.56.17.0+aikido.36.18.0+aikido.36.18.0+aikido.46.18.1+aikido.36.16.2+aikido.66.18.1+aikido.46.16.2+aikido.7 |
pypdf2Ubuntu:Pro:16.04:LTS |
All versions, plus listed versions 1.23+git20141008-11.25.1-11.25.1-1ubuntu0.1~esm11.25.1-1ubuntu0.1~esm2 |
None known |
pypdf2Ubuntu:Pro:18.04:LTS |
All versions, plus listed versions 1.26.0-21.26.0-2ubuntu0.1~esm11.26.0-2ubuntu0.1~esm2 |
None known |
pypdf2Ubuntu:20.04:LTS |
All versions, plus listed versions 1.26.0-21.26.0-3ubuntu11.26.0-3ubuntu1.20.04.11.26.0-3ubuntu1.20.04.2 |
None known |
pypdf2Ubuntu:22.04:LTS |
All versions, plus listed versions 1.26.0-41.26.0-4ubuntu0.22.04.11.26.0-4ubuntu0.22.04.2 |
None known |
Show 4 moreShow less
| Package | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|
pypdfUbuntu:24.04:LTS |
All versions, plus listed versions 3.4.1-13.17.4-14.0.0-14.0.1-14.0.2-1 |
None known |
pypdf2Ubuntu:24.04:LTS |
All versions, plus listed versions 2.12.1-32.12.1-4 |
None known |
pypdfUbuntu:26.10 |
All versions, plus listed versions 6.9.2-16.9.2-2 |
None known |
pypdfUbuntu:26.04:LTS |
All versions, plus listed versions 5.4.0-16.9.2-1 |
None known |
History
| Recorded | Changed | Sources |
|---|---|---|
| affected | ||
| facts | OSV | |
| affected | OSV | |
| products | NVD | |
| first indexed | CVE List, EUVD, GitHub Advisories, NVD, OSV |
Dates are when Every CVE recorded each change. Upstream dates may differ.
In short
CVE-2026-102998 is a high vulnerability (CVSS 8.7) in Py-pdf Pypdf, published September 30, 2026. No source lists public exploit code. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 0.34%, the 27th percentile. Fixed in pypdf 6.19.0.
References
Left out here: 69 versions. The JSON record has them.