Skip to main content

Hedgedoc CVE-2021-29475

CRITICAL
Code Injection (CWE-94)
2021-04-26 security-advisories@github.com
10.0
CVSS 3.1 · NVD
View

Vulnerability Assessment

Weakness
CWE
OWASP Top 10:2025
A05:2025 - Injection
ASVS 5.0
V1 - Encoding and Sanitization Code injection prevention, sandbox exec
MITRE ATT&CK

2 techniques across 2 tactics: Execution, Initial Access

The technique list with ATT&CK links and the kill-chain view is part of the Basic plan and up.

Impact

CVSS score of 10.0 (CRITICAL). Attack characteristics: network attack vector, low complexity, no privileges required, no user interaction not required.

Exploit ScenarioDerived

A remote attacker could inject and execute arbitrary code within the application by sending crafted requests to the affected application. No authentication is required to exploit this vulnerability.

Act Now Prioritize within 24-48h. Why: CRITICAL severity.
Patch available 1.2% exploitation probability (EPSS)

Get an e-mail when this CVE is exploited, patched or re-scored. Free account.

Alert me

AnalysisAI

HedgeDoc (formerly known as CodiMD) is an open-source collaborative markdown editor. Rated critical severity (CVSS 10.0), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. This Code Injection vulnerability could allow attackers to inject and execute arbitrary code within the application.

RemediationAI

A vendor patch is available. Apply the latest security update as soon as possible. Never evaluate user-controlled input as code. Use sandboxing, disable dangerous functions, apply strict input validation.

Affects your stack

Find out whether the stacks and servers you run are on an affected version.

Checking this CVE against your own stacks and servers is part of the Basic plan and up.

Technical ContextAI · show details

This vulnerability is classified as Code Injection (CWE-94), which allows attackers to inject and execute arbitrary code within the application. HedgeDoc (formerly known as CodiMD) is an open-source collaborative markdown editor. An attacker is able to receive arbitrary files from the file system when exporting a note to PDF. Since the code injection has to take place as note content, there fore this exploit requires the attackers ability to modify a note. This will affect all instances, which have pdf export enabled. This issue has been fixed by https://github.com/hedgedoc/hedgedoc/commit/c1789474020a6d668d616464cb2da5e90e123f65 and is available in version 1.5.0. Starting the CodiMD/HedgeDoc instance with CMD_ALLOW_PDF_EXPORT=false or set "allowPDFExport": false in config.json can mitigate this issue for those who cannot upgrade. This exploit works because while PhantomJS doesn't actually render the file:/// references to the PDF file itself, it still uses them internally, and exfiltration is possible, and easy through JavaScript rendering. The impact is pretty bad, as the attacker is able to read the CodiMD/HedgeDoc config.json file as well any other files on the filesystem. Even though the suggested Docker deploy option doesn't have many interesting files itself, the config.json still often contains sensitive information, database credentials, and maybe OAuth secrets among other things. Affected products include: Hedgedoc. Version information: version 1.5.0..

Know when Hedgedoc gets its next vulnerability

  • Watch products and get an email when something new is published
  • Check this CVE against your own stack and servers
  • Exploit and PoC references, threat intelligence from 22 sources

No credit card · 7-day full trial

Severity by source

NVD PRIMARY 10.0 CRITICAL
AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:N

Primary rating from NVD · only source for this CVE.

CVSS VectorNVD

Attack Vector
Network
Attack Complexity
Low
Privileges Required
None
User Interaction
None
Scope
Changed
Confidentiality
High
Integrity
High
Availability
None

DescriptionNVD

HedgeDoc (formerly known as CodiMD) is an open-source collaborative markdown editor. An attacker is able to receive arbitrary files from the file system when exporting a note to PDF. Since the code injection has to take place as note content, there fore this exploit requires the attackers ability to modify a note. This will affect all instances, which have pdf export enabled. This issue has been fixed by https://github.com/hedgedoc/hedgedoc/commit/c1789474020a6d668d616464cb2da5e90e123f65 and is available in version 1.5.0. Starting the CodiMD/HedgeDoc instance with CMD_ALLOW_PDF_EXPORT=false or set "allowPDFExport": false in config.json can mitigate this issue for those who cannot upgrade. This exploit works because while PhantomJS doesn't actually render the file:/// references to the PDF file itself, it still uses them internally, and exfiltration is possible, and easy through JavaScript rendering. The impact is pretty bad, as the attacker is able to read the CodiMD/HedgeDoc config.json file as well any other files on the filesystem. Even though the suggested Docker deploy option doesn't have many interesting files itself, the config.json still often contains sensitive information, database credentials, and maybe OAuth secrets among other things.

Threat Intelligence Overview

EPSS Score
1.2%
Top 37% exploitable
Data Quality
3 sources
Confidence: Low

How this decision was reached

The engine reads each signal below and applies a fixed list of rules from top to bottom. The first rule that matches sets the recommended action – like a statement, every line is shown.

SignalValue
Severity CRITICAL
CISA KEV No
Public POC No
EPSS 1.2%
Patch available Yes
Active threat No
Deciding rule
CRITICAL severity
What every action level means
Emergency Immediate action required. Criteria: CRITICAL + in CISA KEV (actively exploited) without patch, OR CRITICAL + EPSS > 30% without patch, OR CRITICAL + active threat signals without patch.
Act Now Prioritize within 24-48h. Criteria: in KEV with patch available, OR CRITICAL + public POC, OR HIGH + EPSS > 10%, OR CRITICAL + active threat, OR any CRITICAL severity.
This Week Schedule remediation this week. Criteria: HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9). Patch within normal change window.
This Month Plan within 30 days. Criteria: MEDIUM severity (CVSS 4.0-6.9), lower exploitation probability. Include in regular patch cycle.
Monitor Track and reassess. Criteria: LOW severity (CVSS 0.1-3.9), minimal exploitation risk. No immediate action needed.

SSVC AssessmentENISA

SSVC Decision· derived
Scheduled
Exploitation· derived
None
System Exposure· derived
Open
Automatable· derived
Yes
Human Impact· derived
Medium

Priority Score

51
Low Medium High Critical
KEV: 0
EPSS: +1
CVSS: +50
PoC: 0
Weaponized: 0
Threat intel: 0
Gov advisory: 0

Attack Technique

Code Injection CRITICAL

Code injection occurs when an application accepts user input and passes it directly into a language interpreter or evaluator without proper sanitization.

Remote Code Execution represents the critical moment when an attacker successfully runs arbitrary code on a target system without physical access.

Affected Products (CPE)NVD

cpe:2.3:a:hedgedoc:hedgedoc:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
CVE-2020-26287 HIGH POC
8.7 Dec 29

HedgeDoc is a collaborative platform for writing and sharing markdown. Rated high severity (CVSS 8.7), this vulnerabilit

CVE-2023-38487 HIGH POC
8.2 Aug 04

HedgeDoc is software for creating real-time collaborative markdown notes. Rated high severity (CVSS 8.2), this vulnerabi

CVE-2024-45308 MEDIUM POC
6.5 Sep 02

HedgeDoc is an open source, real-time, collaborative, markdown notes application. Rated medium severity (CVSS 6.5), this

CVE-2021-21259 MEDIUM POC
6.1 Jan 22

HedgeDoc is open source software which lets you create real-time collaborative markdown notes. Rated medium severity (CV

CVE-2021-29474 MEDIUM POC
5.8 Apr 26

HedgeDoc (formerly known as CodiMD) is an open-source collaborative markdown editor. Rated medium severity (CVSS 5.8), t

CVE-2026-58486 HIGH
8.3 Jul 13

Denial of service in HedgeDoc before 1.11.0 lets a user who can store a note crash the instance by embedding a YAML "ali

CVE-2020-26286 HIGH
7.5 Dec 29

HedgeDoc is a collaborative platform for writing and sharing markdown. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.5), this vulnerabilit

CVE-2026-58488 MEDIUM
6.9 Jul 13

Rate-limiting bypass in HedgeDoc prior to 1.11.0 permits unauthenticated remote attackers to circumvent brute-force prot

CVE-2026-58489 MEDIUM
6.8 Jul 13

HedgeDoc's GitHub Gist export feature exposes private and protected note content to attacker-controlled GitHub accounts

CVE-2025-32391 MEDIUM POC
6.4 Apr 10

HedgeDoc is an open source, real-time, collaborative, markdown notes application. Rated medium severity (CVSS 6.4), this

CVE-2021-39175 MEDIUM
6.1 Aug 30

HedgeDoc is a platform to write and share markdown. Rated medium severity (CVSS 6.1), this vulnerability is remotely exp

CVE-2021-29503 MEDIUM
6.1 May 19

HedgeDoc is a platform to write and share markdown. Rated medium severity (CVSS 6.1), this vulnerability is remotely exp

This site uses cookies essential for authentication and security. No tracking or analytics cookies are used. Privacy Policy