# CVE-2026-54071: BabelDOC: Arbitrary Code Execution via CMap Pickle Deserialization in babeldoc/pdfminer/cmapdb.py

> Attackers can execute arbitrary code by crafting malicious PDFs that trigger unsafe pickle deserialization in BabelDOC's PDF parser.

- **Severity:** High 7.8 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** A user has to click or open something
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 21 Aug 2026
- **Updated:** 21 Aug 2026
- **Also known as:** GHSA-m8gf-v64p-gfmg, PYSEC-2026-2389

## What is CVE-2026-54071?

CVE-2026-54071 is a high-severity unsafe deserialization vulnerability in funstory-ai BabelDOC, published on 21 Aug 2026. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.

### Official description

BabelDOC is a document translation tool. Prior to 0.6.3, BabelDOC's vendored PDF parser in babeldoc/pdfminer/cmapdb.py deserializes untrusted pickle data when CMapDB._load_data() loads CMap files. PDF-controlled Encoding or CMapName values and embedded PostScript usecmap operators can reach this sink after path separators are decoded, while _normalize_cmap_name() removes only a leading slash. Absolute paths or traversal sequences can escape the trusted CMap directories through os.path.join(), select an attacker-writable .pickle.gz file, and cause pickle.loads() to execute arbitrary Python code with the privileges of the BabelDOC process. This issue is fixed in version 0.6.3.

Weakness: CWE-502 (Deserialization of Untrusted Data)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-54071?

3 open source packages ship an affected version, including babeldoc and BabelDOC.


| Package | Ecosystem | Affected | Fixed in |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `babeldoc` | PyPI | All versions | 0.6.3 |
| `babeldoc` | PyPI | All versions | 0.6.3 |
| `BabelDOC` | PyPI | All versions | 0.6.3 |

## How do I fix CVE-2026-54071?

Upgrade babeldoc to 0.6.3 or later.

## Is CVE-2026-54071 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-54071 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2026-54071 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2026-54071 is a high-severity unsafe deserialization vulnerability in funstory-ai BabelDOC, published on 21 Aug 2026. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-54071 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected packages and fixed versions:
- babeldoc (PyPI): affected all versions; fixed in 0.6.3
- babeldoc (PyPI): affected all versions; fixed in 0.6.3
- BabelDOC (PyPI): affected all versions; fixed in 0.6.3

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-54071/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-54071/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-54071
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-54071
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2026-54071

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-54071/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.