---
id: CVE-2026-102994
title: pypdf is a free and open-source pure-python PDF library
summary: >-
  pypdf is a free and open-source pure-python PDF library. Prior to 6.18.0, a
  crafted PDF containing indirect-object identifiers or generation-number tokens
  that continue for a long time without whitespace can cause pypdf/_reader.py
  and py…
severity: high
cvss: 7.5
cvssVector: 'CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H'
cwe:
  - CWE-400
  - CWE-407
  - CWE-606
vendor: pypdf_project
product: pypdf
affected:
  - pypdf < 6.18.0
patched:
  - pypdf 6.18.0
published: '2026-09-30'
updated: '2026-10-05'
sourceUpdated: '2026-10-05T15:24:04.943'
source: NVD
sourceUrl: 'https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-102994'
references:
  - url: >-
      https://github.com/py-pdf/pypdf/commit/82501d2993c6387833c4949d205caeb188f8bb9e
    label: security-advisories@github.com
  - url: 'https://github.com/py-pdf/pypdf/pull/4055'
    label: security-advisories@github.com
  - url: 'https://github.com/py-pdf/pypdf/releases/tag/6.18.0'
    label: security-advisories@github.com
  - url: 'https://github.com/py-pdf/pypdf/security/advisories/GHSA-5jq2-8x83-x246'
    label: security-advisories@github.com
  - url: >-
      https://security.access.redhat.com/data/csaf/v2/vex/2026/cve-2026-102994.json
  - url: 'https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2026-102994'
  - url: 'https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2544270'
  - url: 'https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-102994'
  - url: 'https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-102994'
  - url: 'https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-5jq2-8x83-x246'
  - url: 'https://github.com/py-pdf/pypdf'
  - url: 'https://pypi.org/project/pypdf'
  - url: 'https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:83822'
tags:
  - nvd
  - cve.org
  - csaf
  - vex
  - red-hat
  - ghsa
  - pip
  - osv
epss: 0.0034
epssPercentile: 0.27373
aliases:
  - GHSA-5jq2-8x83-x246
  - PYSEC-2026-4153
ecosystem: pip
ssvc:
  exploitation: none
  automatable: 'yes'
  technicalImpact: partial
  timestamp: '2026-09-30T20:50:09.677694Z'
scores:
  nvd: 7.5
  cna: 8.7
  vendor: 7.5
ingestedAt: '2026-09-30T20:23:19.514Z'
---

## Overview

pypdf is a free and open-source pure-python PDF library. Prior to 6.18.0, a crafted PDF containing indirect-object identifiers or generation-number tokens that continue for a long time without whitespace can cause pypdf/_reader.py and pypdf/generic/_base.py to scan excessive input through read_until_whitespace, resulting in long runtimes and application unavailability. This issue is fixed in version 6.18.0.

## Affected

- `pypdf < 6.18.0`

## Remediation

Upgrade past the affected range:

- `pypdf 6.18.0`

## Package advisory (CVE-2026-102994)

Affected packages:

- `pypdf < 6.18.0`

Patched in:

- `pypdf 6.18.0`

Source: https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-5jq2-8x83-x246

## Vendor advisories

- **Red Hat VEX** · Important · affected: Ansible Automation Orchestrator 2026, Lightspeed Core, Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform 2, Red Hat Enterprise Linux AI (RHEL AI) 3, Red Hat OpenShift AI (RHOAI), Red Hat Quay 3 · no fix planned: Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform 2, Red Hat Enterprise Linux AI (RHEL AI) 3, Ansible Automation Orchestrator 2026, Lightspeed Core, … · updated 2026-10-17 · [vex](https://security.access.redhat.com/data/csaf/v2/vex/2026/cve-2026-102994.json)
- **RHSA-2026:83822** · Red Hat · fixed in: Red Hat Quay 3.17 · released 2026-10-16 · [advisory](https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:83822)