CVE catalog

CVE-2023-46250

pypdf affected and fixed versions

pypdf is a free and open-source pure-python PDF library. An attacker who uses a vulnerability present in versions 3.7.0 through 3.16.4 can craft a PDF which leads to an infinite loop. This infinite loop blocks the current process and can utilize a single core of the CPU by 100%. It does not affect memory usage. That is, for example, the case when the pypdf-user manipulates an incoming malicious PDF e.g. by merging it with another PDF or by adding annotations. The issue was fixed in version 3.17.0. As a workaround, apply the patch manually by modifying `pypdf/generic/_data_structures.py`.

Severity: Medium · CVSS 5.1CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
Published: Oct 31, 2023, 12:00:00 AM UTC
Source: [NVD] · [CVE record]
EPSS: 0.24% · Oct 27, 2026

Projects and upstream resources

Reported versions and fixes

Each observation applies to its named package, distribution, and release. Distribution backports can fix a vulnerability while retaining an older upstream version number.

Distribution / release	Package	Version	Status	Source
Debiantrixie	pypdf	Not reported	Not affectedDistribution reports not affected	[CVE-2023-46250]
Debiantrixie	pypdf	`5.4.0-1`	Not affected	[CVE-2023-46250]
Debiansid	pypdf	Not reported	Not affectedDistribution reports not affected	[CVE-2023-46250]
Debiansid	pypdf	`6.21.1-1`	Not affected	[CVE-2023-46250]
Debianforky	pypdf	Not reported	Not affectedDistribution reports not affected	[CVE-2023-46250]
Debianforky	pypdf	`6.21.1-1`	Not affected	[CVE-2023-46250]
Debianbookworm	pypdf	Not reported	Not affectedDistribution reports not affected	[CVE-2023-46250]
Debianbookworm	pypdf	`3.4.1-1+deb12u1`	Not affected	[CVE-2023-46250]
Debianbookworm	pypdf2	Not reported	Not affectedDistribution reports not affected	[CVE-2023-46250]
Debianbookworm	pypdf2	`2.12.1-3+deb12u1`	Not affected	[CVE-2023-46250]

Provider details and historical evidence

Distribution / release	Package	Version	Status	Source
Debianbookworm	pypdf	Not reported	Not affectedDistribution reports not affected	[CVE-2023-46250]
Debianbookworm	pypdf	`3.4.1-1+deb12u1`	Not affected	[CVE-2023-46250]
Debianbookworm	pypdf2	Not reported	Not affectedDistribution reports not affected	[CVE-2023-46250]
Debianbookworm	pypdf2	`2.12.1-3+deb12u1`	Not affected	[CVE-2023-46250]
Debianforky	pypdf	Not reported	Not affectedDistribution reports not affected	[CVE-2023-46250]
Debianforky	pypdf	`6.21.1-1`	Not affected	[CVE-2023-46250]
Debiansid	pypdf	Not reported	Not affectedDistribution reports not affected	[CVE-2023-46250]
Debiansid	pypdf	`6.21.1-1`	Not affected	[CVE-2023-46250]
Debiantrixie	pypdf	Not reported	Not affectedDistribution reports not affected	[CVE-2023-46250]
Debiantrixie	pypdf	`5.4.0-1`	Not affected	[CVE-2023-46250]

Original provider fields

{
  "package_releases": [
    {
      "name": "pypdf",
      "status": "not affected",
      "release": "sid",
      "version": "6.21.1-1"
    },
    {
      "name": "pypdf",
      "status": "not affected",
      "release": "forky",
      "version": "6.21.1-1"
    },
    {
      "name": "pypdf",
      "status": "not affected",
      "release": "trixie",
      "version": "5.4.0-1"
    },
    {
      "name": "pypdf",
      "status": "not affected",
      "release": "bookworm",
      "version": "3.4.1-1+deb12u1"
    },
    {
      "name": "pypdf2",
      "status": "not affected",
      "release": "bookworm",
      "version": "2.12.1-3+deb12u1"
    }
  ],
  "fixed_versions": [
    {
      "bug": null,
      "name": "pypdf",
      "type": "source",
      "origin": null,
      "release": "sid",
      "urgency": "unimportant",
      "fixed_version": "0"
    },
    {
      "bug": null,
      "name": "pypdf",
      "type": "source",
      "origin": null,
      "release": "forky",
      "urgency": "unimportant",
      "fixed_version": "0"
    },
    {
      "bug": null,
      "name": "pypdf",
      "type": "source",
      "origin": null,
      "release": "trixie",
      "urgency": "unimportant",
      "fixed_version": "0"
    },
    {
      "bug": null,
      "name": "pypdf",
      "type": "source",
      "origin": null,
      "release": "bookworm",
      "urgency": "unimportant",
      "fixed_version": "0"
    },
    {
      "bug": null,
      "name": "pypdf2",
      "type": "source",
      "origin": null,
      "release": "bookworm",
      "urgency": "unimportant",
      "fixed_version": "0"
    }
  ],
  "distribution_packages": []
}

OpenFactory catalog packages

Matching against OpenFactory catalog package versions is in progress.

[Debian 12 (Bookworm)]

[python3-pypdf]Unknown
Source package: [pypdf]
Details (2)
- 3.4.1-1+deb12u1 · all · bookworm
  Not affected
  dsa · pypdf · debian · bookworm
- 3.4.1-1+deb12u1 · all · bookworm
  Not affected
  dsa · pypdf · debian · bookworm
[python3-pypdf2]Unknown
Source package: [pypdf2]
Details (2)
- 2.12.1-3+deb12u1 · all · bookworm
  Not affected
  dsa · pypdf2 · debian · bookworm
- 2.12.1-3+deb12u1 · all · bookworm
  Not affected
  dsa · pypdf2 · debian · bookworm

Observed: Oct 28, 2026, 5:43:34 PM UTC

References

[Debian Security Tracker] · [FIRST EPSS] · [Red Hat security advisories and VEX]