CVE-2025-51591 is a low-severity Server-Side Request Forgery (SSRF) vulnerability present in JGM Pandoc version 3.6.4. This vulnerability allows attackers to gain access to and compromise the whole infrastructure via injecting a crafted iframe. The potential impact arises from the fact that Pandoc can retrieve and parse untrusted HTML content by default, which can lead to SSRF vulnerabilities.
The CVSS score for this vulnerability is 3.7, indicating a low severity level. Organizations should take this vulnerability seriously, as exploitation can lead to unauthorized access to sensitive resources or services, thereby increasing the overall risk profile of their infrastructure.
Currently, there is a known exploit for this vulnerability, which underscores the urgency for defenders to implement mitigation strategies. Organizations using affected versions of Pandoc should prioritize remediation to reduce their exposure to this risk.
Organizations should prioritize patching immediately. The use of the ‘--sandbox’ option or ‘pandoc-server’ can mitigate such vulnerabilities. Additionally, using pandoc with an external ‘--pdf-engine’ can also enable SSRF vulnerabilities, such as CVE-2022-35583 in wkhtmltopdf.
The exploitation of this vulnerability could lead to significant operational disruptions, emphasizing the need for proactive security measures.
Vulnerability Details
The official description of CVE-2025-51591 states: 'A Server-Side Request Forgery (SSRF) in JGM Pandoc v3.6.4 allows attackers to gain access to and compromise the whole infrastructure via injecting a crafted iframe.' The vulnerability is classified under CWE-918.
The CVSS 3.1 vector string for this vulnerability is 'CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N', with a base score of 3.7, indicating low severity. The attack vector is classified as 'NETWORK', and the attack complexity is rated as 'HIGH'. No privileges are required for this attack, and user interaction is not necessary.
Technical Analysis
The root cause of this vulnerability lies in the handling of untrusted HTML content by Pandoc. When users utilize Pandoc to convert documents that include untrusted HTML, it can inadvertently trigger the SSRF vulnerability, particularly if crafted iframes are injected.
The attack vector for this vulnerability is 'NETWORK', meaning an attacker can exploit it remotely. The attack complexity is rated as 'HIGH', indicating that successful exploitation may depend on specific conditions being met. No privileges are required for exploitation, and user interaction is not needed. The confidentiality impact is considered 'LOW', while integrity and availability impacts are rated as 'NONE'.
Risk & Impact Analysis
The real-world deployment risk associated with CVE-2025-51591 is significant. Attackers leveraging this vulnerability can potentially gain access to sensitive resources and compromise the integrity of the entire infrastructure. The blast radius of such an attack can be extensive, especially in environments where Pandoc is integrated into critical workflows.
Given the low CVSS score, organizations may be tempted to deprioritize remediation. However, the potential for exploitation, especially in scenarios where untrusted HTML content is processed, makes it imperative that organizations address this vulnerability promptly.
Signal | Status |
|---|---|
Known Exploit | Yes |
Public PoC | Yes |
Actively Exploited | No |
Ransomware Use | No |
Affected Versions
The affected version is JGM Pandoc v3.6.4. If version information is not specified, organizations should consider that all versions prior to vendor patch may be affected.
Mitigation & Remediation
Organizations should prioritize patching immediately. To mitigate this vulnerability, users are advised to utilize the ‘--sandbox’ option or implement ‘pandoc-server’. If a patch is unavailable, organizations must consider workarounds like avoiding untrusted HTML content or applying strict content security policies. Configuration hardening and network controls are also recommended.
Detection Guidance
Security teams should monitor logs for indicators of SSRF attempts, such as unusual outbound requests or unexpected access patterns. Behavioral anomalies related to HTML content processing should also be scrutinized.
AppSecure Threat Intelligence Insight
The long-term significance of CVE-2025-51591 lies in the broader trend of SSRF vulnerabilities emerging from web applications that handle untrusted content. This vulnerability reflects the necessity for developers to implement strict validation and sanitization measures when processing external content.
Security teams must learn from this incident by adopting a comprehensive security testing approach. Regular audits and penetration testing can help surface similar weaknesses before attackers exploit them.
For further reading on SSRF vulnerabilities and how to protect against them, organizations can refer to our penetration testing methodology guide, which outlines best practices for identifying and remediating such vulnerabilities.
Moreover, organizations should enhance their overall application security posture by engaging in vulnerability management programs that encompass regular assessments and updates.
Finally, organizations can consider leveraging penetration testing services to test their defenses against such vulnerabilities proactively.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
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