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CVE-2023-38745

Pandoc before 3.1.6 allows arbitrary file write: this can be triggered by providing a crafted...

6.3 MediumFix available

Pandoc before 3.1.6 allows arbitrary file write: this can be triggered by providing a crafted image element in the input when generating files via the --extract-media option or outputting to PDF format. This allows an attacker to create or overwrite arbitrary files, depending on the privileges of the process running Pandoc. It only affects systems that pass untrusted user input to Pandoc and allow Pandoc to be used to produce a PDF or with the --extract-media option. NOTE: this issue exists because of an incomplete fix for CVE-2023-35936 (failure to properly account for double encoded path names).

Attack profile

How easy it is to exploit

Attack vector
Local
Complexity
High
Privileges needed
None
User interaction
Required

What an attacker can affect

Confidentiality
None
Integrity
High
Availability
High

Exploit likelihood

0.25%Up 0.2 points since Jul 25, 2023
90%50%10%1%

What each source reports

NVD Score used 6.3

Pandoc before 3.1.6 allows arbitrary file write: this can be triggered by providing a crafted image element in the input when generating files via the --extract-media option or outputting to PDF format. This allows an attacker to create or overwrite arbitrary files, depending on the privileges of the process running Pandoc. It only affects systems that pass untrusted user input to Pandoc and allow Pandoc to be used to produce a PDF or with the --extract-media option. NOTE: this issue exists because of an incomplete fix for CVE-2023-35936 (failure to properly account for double encoded path names).

Record
CVE-2023-38745
CVSS 3.1
6.3 MediumCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:H
Updated
2026-11-02
CVE List No score

Pandoc before 3.1.6 allows arbitrary file write: this can be triggered by providing a crafted image element in the input when generating files via the --extract-media option or outputting to PDF format. This allows an attacker to create or overwrite arbitrary files, depending on the privileges of the process running Pandoc. It only affects systems that pass untrusted user input to Pandoc and allow Pandoc to be used to produce a PDF or with the --extract-media option. NOTE: this issue exists because of an incomplete fix for CVE-2023-35936 (failure to properly account for double encoded path names).

Record
CVE-2023-38745
Updated
2026-11-02
EUVDEUVD-2023-42520 No score

Pandoc before 3.1.6 allows arbitrary file write: this can be triggered by providing a crafted image element in the input when generating files via the --extract-media option or outputting to PDF format. This allows an attacker to create or overwrite arbitrary files, depending on the privileges of the process running Pandoc. It only affects systems that pass untrusted user input to Pandoc and allow Pandoc to be used to produce a PDF or with the --extract-media option. NOTE: this issue exists because of an incomplete fix for CVE-2023-35936 (failure to properly account for double encoded path names).

Record
EUVD-2023-42520
Updated
2026-11-02
GitHub AdvisoriesGHSA-9hpj-m9v9-5wvw 6.3

Pandoc before 3.1.6 allows arbitrary file write: this can be triggered by providing a crafted...

Pandoc before 3.1.6 allows arbitrary file write: this can be triggered by providing a crafted image element in the input when generating files via the --extract-media option or outputting to PDF format. This allows an attacker to create or overwrite arbitrary files, depending on the privileges of the process running Pandoc. It only affects systems that pass untrusted user input to Pandoc and allow Pandoc to be used to produce a PDF or with the --extract-media option. NOTE: this issue exists because of an incomplete fix for CVE-2023-35936 (failure to properly account for double encoded path names).

Record
GHSA-9hpj-m9v9-5wvw
CVSS 3.1
6.3 MediumCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:H
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVJLSEC-2026-500 6.3

Pandoc before 3.1.6 allows arbitrary file write: this can be triggered by providing a crafted image element in the input when generating files via the --extract-media option or outputting to PDF format. This allows an attacker to create or overwrite arbitrary files, depending on the privileges of the process running Pandoc. It only affects systems that pass untrusted user input to Pandoc and allow Pandoc to be used to produce a PDF or with the --extract-media option. NOTE: this issue exists because of an incomplete fix for CVE-2023-35936 (failure to properly account for double encoded path names).

Record
JLSEC-2026-500
CVSS 3.1
6.3 MediumCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:H
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVUBUNTU-CVE-2023-38745 6.3

Pandoc before 3.1.6 allows arbitrary file write: this can be triggered by providing a crafted image element in the input when generating files via the --extract-media option or outputting to PDF format. This allows an attacker to create or overwrite arbitrary files, depending on the privileges of the process running Pandoc. It only affects systems that pass untrusted user input to Pandoc and allow Pandoc to be used to produce a PDF or with the --extract-media option. NOTE: this issue exists because of an incomplete fix for CVE-2023-35936 (failure to properly account for double encoded path names).

Record
UBUNTU-CVE-2023-38745
CVSS 3.1
6.3 MediumCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:H
Updated
2026-11-02
OSV No score

Pandoc before 3.1.6 allows arbitrary file write: this can be triggered by providing a crafted image element in the input when generating files via the --extract-media option or outputting to PDF format. This allows an attacker to create or overwrite arbitrary files, depending on the privileges of the process running Pandoc. It only affects systems that pass untrusted user input to Pandoc and allow Pandoc to be used to produce a PDF or with the --extract-media option. NOTE: this issue exists because of an incomplete fix for CVE-2023-35936 (failure to properly account for double encoded path names).

Record
CVE-2023-38745
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVopenSUSE-SU-2024:13246-1 No score

ghc-pandoc-3.1.3-3.1 on GA media

These are all security issues fixed in the ghc-pandoc-3.1.3-3.1 package on the GA media of openSUSE Tumbleweed.

Record
openSUSE-SU-2024:13246-1
Updated
2026-11-02

Affected products

Affected packages

Affected packages
PackageAffectedFixed
pandoc_jll
Julia
 before 3.1.9+0
3.1.9+0
pandoc
Ubuntu:14.04:LTS
 All versions, plus listed versions
1.11.1-2build21.11.1-41.11.1-51.12.2.1-11.12.2.1-1build11.12.2.1-1build2
 None known
pandoc
Ubuntu:16.04:LTS
 All versions, plus listed versions
1.13.2.1~dfsg-1build61.15.1.1~dfsg-21.15.1.1~dfsg-2build11.16.0.2~dfsg-1
 None known
pandoc
Ubuntu:18.04:LTS
 All versions, plus listed versions
1.19.2.1.0-11.19.2.4~dfsg-1build11.19.2.4~dfsg-1build21.19.2.4~dfsg-1build31.19.2.4~dfsg-1build4
 None known
pandoc
Ubuntu:20.04:LTS
 All versions, plus listed versions
2.5-22.5-32.5-3build12.5-3build2
 None known
pandoc
Ubuntu:22.04:LTS
 All versions, plus listed versions
2.9.2.1-1ubuntu42.9.2.1-3ubuntu12.9.2.1-3ubuntu2
 None known
pandoc
Ubuntu:24.04:LTS
 All versions, plus listed versions
2.17.1.1-3ubuntu13.0.1+ds-33.1.3+ds-13.1.3+ds-2
 None known
pandoc
Ubuntu:25.10
 All versions, plus listed versions
3.1.11.1+ds-23.1.11.1+ds-4
 None known
pandoc
Ubuntu:26.10
 All versions, plus listed versions
3.7.0.2+ds-13.9.0.2-13.10-13.11-1
 None known
pandoc
Ubuntu:26.04:LTS
 All versions, plus listed versions
3.1.11.1+ds-43.7.0.2+ds-1
 None known

History

History
RecordedChangedSources
first indexedCVE List, EUVD, GitHub Advisories, NVD, OSV

Dates are when Every CVE recorded each change. Upstream dates may differ.

In short

CVE-2023-38745 is a medium vulnerability (CVSS 6.3) in Pandoc, published July 25, 2023. No source lists public exploit code. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 0.25%, the 16th percentile. Fixed in pandoc_jll 3.1.9+0.

References

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