TCPDF Package Vulnerability: Missing Character Escape in Error Messages
Summary
GHSA-qx95-cwh6-9mvq: TCPDF missing character escape on error messages. Affects tecnickcom/tcpdf versions < 6.8.0. Fixed in 6.8.0. How to fix ↓
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Background
TCPDF is a popular open-source PHP library used for generating PDF documents programmatically. It provides a wide range of features including support for various fonts, images, and complex layouts. However, prior to version 6.8.0, TCPDF had a vulnerability in its error handling mechanism that could lead to security issues if error messages were not properly escaped, potentially exposing sensitive information in a web application context.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in TCPDF arises from the Error function, which does not utilize htmlspecialchars to escape error messages. This oversight can lead to Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) attacks, where an attacker could inject malicious scripts into the error messages displayed to users. If an application using TCPDF encounters an error, the unescaped message could be rendered in the browser, allowing attackers to execute arbitrary JavaScript in the context of the user's session, potentially compromising user data and application integrity.
How To Fix
Minimum fixed version
6.8.0
This is the first release that contains the fix.
composer require tecnickcom/tcpdf:6.8.0Tip — Not sure which version your app runs? Vulert can match this fix to it. Scan free →
Workaround
As a temporary workaround, developers can manually escape error messages by wrapping them with htmlspecialchars before displaying them. For example:
$error_message = 'An error occurred';
$escaped_message = htmlspecialchars($error_message, ENT_QUOTES, 'UTF-8');
echo $escaped_message;
Conclusion
The TCPDF library has a vulnerability related to unescaped error messages that can lead to XSS attacks. It is crucial for developers using this library to update to version 6.8.0 or later to ensure their applications are secure. Additionally, implementing proper error message handling can further protect against potential exploits.
See every vulnerability recorded for tecnickcom/tcpdf →
FAQ
TCPDF is an open-source PHP library for generating PDF documents. It is widely used for creating dynamic PDF files in web applications.
The vulnerability involves a lack of character escaping in error messages, which can lead to XSS attacks if untrusted data is displayed in the browser.
You can use Vulert to monitor your application for vulnerabilities. By analyzing your composer.lock file, Vulert provides real-time alerts for open-source vulnerabilities.
Yes, the vulnerability has been fixed in TCPDF version 6.8.0. It is recommended to update to this version or later.
If an immediate update is not possible, ensure that error messages are properly escaped using htmlspecialchars to mitigate the risk of XSS attacks.
Related vulnerabilities
Recent vulnerabilities recorded for tecnickcom/tcpdf.
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