CVE-2026-46529

HIGH

PDF /GoToR action argv injection enables single-click RCE via --gtk-module dlopen

Title source: cna
STIX 2.1

Exploitation Summary

EIP tracks 2 public exploits for CVE-2026-46529. PoCs published by N1et, amnsecurity.

AI-analyzed exploit summary This repository contains a functional exploit for CVE-2026-46529, targeting a vulnerability in atril/xreader PDF viewers. The exploit leverages a PDF+ELF polyglot to inject malicious arguments via the /GoToR action, leading to arbitrary code execution when a user clicks on the PDF.

Description

Atril Document Viewer is the default document reader of the MATE desktop environment for Linux. A single-click remote code execution vulnerability in versions prior to 1.26.3 and 1.28.4 allows an attacker to achieve arbitrary code execution as the user by tricking them into clicking a link inside a malicious PDF document. The PDF can be packaged as a polyglot file that is simultaneously a valid PDF and a valid ELF shared library, making the attack a single-file, single-click, configuration-independent RCE on stock atril installations. The root cause is `shell/ev-application.c:ev_spawn`, which builds a command line from attacker-controlled PDF link-destination fields without applying `g_shell_quote`. The cmdline is then handed to `g_app_info_create_from_commandline`, which shell-parses it back into argv — splitting any embedded `--gtk-module=PATH` into a separate argv element. GTK then `dlopen()`s the path during init, running any `__attribute__((constructor))` it finds. Versions 1.26.3 and 1.28.4 contain a patch for the issue. This is the same defect class as CVE-2023-51698 (CBT `--checkpoint-action` injection in `comics-document.c`, fixed in 1.6.2) but in a different code path (`shell/ev-application.c`) that the original patch did not touch.

Exploits (2)

nomisec WORKING POC 8 stars
by N1et · poc
https://github.com/N1et/CVE-2026-46529

This repository contains a functional exploit for CVE-2026-46529, targeting a vulnerability in atril/xreader PDF viewers. The exploit leverages a PDF+ELF polyglot to inject malicious arguments via the /GoToR action, leading to arbitrary code execution when a user clicks on the PDF.

Classification
Working Poc 100%
Attack Type
Rce
Complexity
Moderate
Reliability
Reliable
Target: atril/xreader PDF viewers
No auth needed
Prerequisites: victim must open the crafted PDF in atril/xreader · attacker must know the victim's IP and port for reverse shell
mistral-large-3 · analyzed Jun 12, 2026 Full analysis →
github WORKING POC 1 stars
by amnsecurity · pythonpoc
https://github.com/amnsecurity/CVE-2026-46529-Atril-PDF-RCE

This PoC generates a malicious PDF with a clickable link that exploits unsafe URI handling in Atril, Evince, and XReader PDF viewers. When clicked, the link executes arbitrary commands via crafted URIs (e.g., `file:///bin/sh -c 'command'`). The exploit leverages improper input sanitization in URI parsing.

Classification
Working Poc 98%
Attack Type
Rce
Complexity
Moderate
Reliability
Reliable
Target: Atril Document Viewer (< 1.26.3, < 1.28.4), Evince, XReader
No auth needed
Prerequisites: Victim must open the PDF in a vulnerable viewer · Victim must click the malicious link · Target system must have a vulnerable version of Atril/Evince/XReader
mistral-large-3 · analyzed Jul 13, 2026 Full analysis →

References (21)

Core 21
Core References

Scores

CVSS v3 7.8
EPSS 0.0053
EPSS Percentile 41.7%
Attack Vector LOCAL
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

CISA SSVC

Vulnrichment
Exploitation poc
Automatable no
Technical Impact total

Details

CWE
CWE-77 CWE-829 CWE-88
Status published
Products (2)
mate-desktop/atril < 1.26.3
mate-desktop/atril >= 1.27.0, < 1.28.4
Published Jun 10, 2026
Tracked Since Jun 11, 2026