CVE-2026-85714
Stirling-PDF: Remote Code Execution via H2
- Published
- Oct 14, 2026
- Updated
- Oct 15, 2026
- Assigning CNA
- GitHub_M
- Evidence observed
- Oct 18, 2026
Primary CVSS
nvd · CVSS 3.1
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:HLow · next 30 days
- Percentile
- 49.1%
- Model date
- Oct 17, 2026
EPSS is a statistical estimate, not a certainty or a measure of impact. Combine it with CVSS, KEV status, exposure and your environment.
Summary
Stirling-PDF is a locally hosted web application that facilitates various operations on PDF files. Prior to 2.13.2, an authenticated administrator using the default H2 database and security mode can upload a crafted SQL file to POST /api/v1/database/import-database. DatabaseService.validateSqlContent() splits normalized input on semicolons and accepts a statement when it contains any allowed keyword, allowing dangerous H2 functions such as FILE_READ and CSVWRITE, plus CREATE ALIAS, to bypass the insufficient whitelist and execute side effects when RUNSCRIPT processes the file. This permits arbitrary file access. The demonstrated operating-system command execution chain writes attacker-controlled startup files to a user-site location and then triggers an application Python interpreter configured to load those startup files, resulting in command execution as the JVM service account. This issue is fixed in version 2.13.2.
Sources
Stirling-PDF v3.2.0 - Critical - Remote - H2 RUNSCRIPT leftover - CREATE OR REPLACE ALIAS import-database
Responsible use
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