CVE-2023-38745
Pandoc before 3.1.6 allows arbitrary file write: this can be triggered by providing a crafted...
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.
- Severity
- 6.3 MediumCVSS 3.1, NVD
- Exploit chance
- 0.25%EPSS, 16th percentile
- Exploitation
- None knownNot on CISA’s or ENISA’s lists
- Fixed in
3.1.9+0pandoc_jll +9 more
Description
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
Affected products
Affected packages
| Package | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|
pandoc_jllJulia | before 3.1.9+0 | 3.1.9+0 |
pandocUbuntu: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 |
pandocUbuntu: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 |
pandocUbuntu: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 |
pandocUbuntu:20.04:LTS | All versions, plus listed versions 2.5-22.5-32.5-3build12.5-3build2 | None known |
pandocUbuntu:22.04:LTS | All versions, plus listed versions 2.9.2.1-1ubuntu42.9.2.1-3ubuntu12.9.2.1-3ubuntu2 | None known |
pandocUbuntu: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 |
pandocUbuntu:25.10 | All versions, plus listed versions 3.1.11.1+ds-23.1.11.1+ds-4 | None known |
pandocUbuntu:26.10 | All versions, plus listed versions 3.7.0.2+ds-13.9.0.2-13.10-13.11-1 | None known |
pandocUbuntu:26.04:LTS | All versions, plus listed versions 3.1.11.1+ds-43.7.0.2+ds-1 | None known |
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 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:H - Updated
- 2026-11-02
CVE ListNo 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-2023-42520No 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 Medium
CVSS: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 Medium
CVSS: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 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:H - Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVNo 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-2024:13246-1No 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
History
| Recorded | Changed | Sources |
|---|---|---|
| first indexed | CVE List, EUVD, GitHub Advisories, NVD, OSV |
Dates are when Every CVE recorded each change. Upstream dates may differ.
References
github.com/jgm/pandoc/commit/eddedbfc14916aa06fc01ff04b38aeb30ae2e625
github.com/jgm/pandoc/compare/3.1.5...3.1.6
lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2023/07/msg00029.html
lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/QI6RBP6ZKVC2OOCV6SU2FUHPMAXDDJFU
lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/JGRJHU2FTSGTHHRTNDF7STEKLKKA25JN
lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/LYP3FKDS3KAYMQUZVVL73IUI4CWSKLKP
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lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/LYP3FKDS3KAYMQUZVVL73IUI4CWSKLKP
lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/QI6RBP6ZKVC2OOCV6SU2FUHPMAXDDJFU
nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-38745
github.com/advisories/GHSA-9hpj-m9v9-5wvw
github.com/CVEProject/cvelistV5/tree/main/cves/2023/38xxx/CVE-2023-38745.json
ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2023-38745
cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-38745
suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2023-38745