CVE-2016-4991
CWE-77Published: July 28, 2022· Updated: Jun 17, 2026
Official Description
Input passed to the Pdf() function is shell escaped and passed to child_process.exec() during PDF rendering. However, the shell escape does not properly encode all special characters, namely, semicolon and curly braces. This can be abused to achieve command execution. This problem affects nodepdf 1.3.0.
Risk Analysis
The nodepdf library fails to properly sanitize input before passing it to system commands, allowing for command execution. Given the critical CVSS score of 9.8, this flaw poses a severe risk to affected systems.
No public exploit is currently known, and the vulnerability is not in the KEV catalog. It is remotely exploitable due to the network attack vector.
Users should update to a version of nodepdf that addresses these input sanitization flaws.
Technical Analysis
CVE-2016-4991 can be exploited remotely over the network without requiring physical or adjacent access, significantly expanding the attack surface for threat actors.
The vulnerability requires no privileges and no user interaction, making it a prime target for automated exploitation campaigns and worm-like propagation.
A successful exploit results in complete confidentiality breach (data exposure), full integrity compromise (data manipulation), availability disruption (denial of service), with a CVSS base score of 9.8.
CVSS v3.1 Vector Breakdown
Affected Vendors & Products
Exploit & PoC Resources
Official Patches & Advisories
All References (2)
Quick Facts
Related CVEs (CWE-77)
Recommended Actions
- →Apply vendor patches immediately
- →Monitor CVE-2016-4991 in threat intel feeds
- →Review IDS/IPS signatures for exploitation attempts