CVE-2025-55197
PyPDF FlateDecode Filter Exhaustion Denial of Service
Description
pypdf is a free and open-source pure-python PDF library. Prior to version 6.0.0, an attacker can craft a PDF which leads to the RAM being exhausted. This requires just reading the file if a series of FlateDecode filters is used on a malicious cross-reference stream. Other content streams are affected on explicit access. This issue has been fixed in 6.0.0. If an update is not possible, a workaround involves including the fixed code from pypdf.filters.decompress into the existing filters file.
INFO
Published Date :
Aug. 13, 2025, 11:15 p.m.
Last Modified :
Aug. 15, 2025, 8:05 p.m.
Remotely Exploit :
Yes !
Source :
[email protected]
CVSS Scores
| Score | Version | Severity | Vector | Exploitability Score | Impact Score | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CVSS 3.1 | HIGH | [email protected] | ||||
| CVSS 4.0 | MEDIUM | [email protected] |
Solution
- Update pypdf to version 6.0.0 or later.
- If update is not possible, apply the provided workaround code.
Public PoC/Exploit Available at Github
CVE-2025-55197 has a 1 public
PoC/Exploit available at Github.
Go to the Public Exploits tab to see the list.
References to Advisories, Solutions, and Tools
Here, you will find a curated list of external links that provide in-depth
information, practical solutions, and valuable tools related to
CVE-2025-55197.
| URL | Resource |
|---|---|
| https://github.com/py-pdf/pypdf/blob/0dd57738bbdcdb63f0fb43d8a6b3d222b6946595/pypdf/filters.py#L72-L143 | Product |
| https://github.com/py-pdf/pypdf/issues/3429 | Issue Tracking |
| https://github.com/py-pdf/pypdf/pull/3430 | Patch |
| https://github.com/py-pdf/pypdf/releases/tag/6.0.0 | Release Notes |
| https://github.com/py-pdf/pypdf/security/advisories/GHSA-7hfw-26vp-jp8m | Third Party Advisory Mitigation |
CWE - Common Weakness Enumeration
While CVE identifies
specific instances of vulnerabilities, CWE categorizes the common flaws or
weaknesses that can lead to vulnerabilities. CVE-2025-55197 is
associated with the following CWEs:
Common Attack Pattern Enumeration and Classification (CAPEC)
Common Attack Pattern Enumeration and Classification
(CAPEC)
stores attack patterns, which are descriptions of the common attributes and
approaches employed by adversaries to exploit the CVE-2025-55197
weaknesses.
We scan GitHub repositories to detect new proof-of-concept exploits. Following list is a collection of public exploits and proof-of-concepts, which have been published on GitHub (sorted by the most recently updated).
Intelligent PDF compression tool with PyQt6 GUI featuring multiple compression strategies and real-time analysis.
pdf-compression-pyqt6-python-gui-image-processing
Python Shell
Results are limited to the first 15 repositories due to potential performance issues.
The following list is the news that have been mention
CVE-2025-55197 vulnerability anywhere in the article.
The following table lists the changes that have been made to the
CVE-2025-55197 vulnerability over time.
Vulnerability history details can be useful for understanding the evolution of a vulnerability, and for identifying the most recent changes that may impact the vulnerability's severity, exploitability, or other characteristics.
-
Initial Analysis by [email protected]
Aug. 15, 2025
Action Type Old Value New Value Added CVSS V3.1 AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H Added CPE Configuration OR *cpe:2.3:a:pypdf_project:pypdf:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* versions up to (excluding) 6.0.0 Added Reference Type GitHub, Inc.: https://github.com/py-pdf/pypdf/blob/0dd57738bbdcdb63f0fb43d8a6b3d222b6946595/pypdf/filters.py#L72-L143 Types: Product Added Reference Type GitHub, Inc.: https://github.com/py-pdf/pypdf/issues/3429 Types: Issue Tracking Added Reference Type GitHub, Inc.: https://github.com/py-pdf/pypdf/pull/3430 Types: Patch Added Reference Type GitHub, Inc.: https://github.com/py-pdf/pypdf/releases/tag/6.0.0 Types: Release Notes Added Reference Type GitHub, Inc.: https://github.com/py-pdf/pypdf/security/advisories/GHSA-7hfw-26vp-jp8m Types: Mitigation, Third Party Advisory -
New CVE Received by [email protected]
Aug. 13, 2025
Action Type Old Value New Value Added Description pypdf is a free and open-source pure-python PDF library. Prior to version 6.0.0, an attacker can craft a PDF which leads to the RAM being exhausted. This requires just reading the file if a series of FlateDecode filters is used on a malicious cross-reference stream. Other content streams are affected on explicit access. This issue has been fixed in 6.0.0. If an update is not possible, a workaround involves including the fixed code from pypdf.filters.decompress into the existing filters file. Added CVSS V4.0 AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:N/VI:N/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:U/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 Added CWE CWE-400 Added CWE CWE-770 Added Reference https://github.com/py-pdf/pypdf/blob/0dd57738bbdcdb63f0fb43d8a6b3d222b6946595/pypdf/filters.py#L72-L143 Added Reference https://github.com/py-pdf/pypdf/issues/3429 Added Reference https://github.com/py-pdf/pypdf/pull/3430 Added Reference https://github.com/py-pdf/pypdf/releases/tag/6.0.0 Added Reference https://github.com/py-pdf/pypdf/security/advisories/GHSA-7hfw-26vp-jp8m