Description
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.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stirling-Tools | Stirling-PDF | < 2.13.2 | — |
Automated scanner template
A ready-made Nuclei template detects this vulnerability automatically. Vulnerabilities with public scanner templates are typically probed across the internet soon after the template appears — exposed systems should be patched first.
- Stirling PDF <= 2.13.1 - H2 Database Import Remote Code Execution http/cves/2026/CVE-2026-85714.yaml
Source: projectdiscovery/nuclei-templates (MIT) — updated daily. Only links are listed.
References
- https://github.com/Stirling-Tools/Stirling-PDF/security/advisories/GHSA-mrr8-934j-4g8m
- https://github.com/Stirling-Tools/Stirling-PDF/pull/6796
- https://github.com/Stirling-Tools/Stirling-PDF/commit/d06d3cabaf5b8a7dcd0dbfc584828d8e687e5dd5
- https://github.com/Stirling-Tools/Stirling-PDF/releases/tag/v2.13.2