# CVE-2020-8132: pdf-image code injection via improper input validation

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2020-8132-pdf-image-code-injection-via-improper-input-validation  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2021-05-10. Updated: 2026-09-25  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2020-8132 · Severity: low · CVSS 3.1 · Published 2021-05-10

pdf-image is a Node.js library that converts PDF files to images. Due to insufficient input validation on PDF file paths, an attacker can inject arbitrary code if the file path is constructed from untrusted user input, leading to remote code execution on the server running the application.

Technologies: [pdf-image (npm)](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/pdf-image). Vendors: [npm](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/npm).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2020-8132 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2020-8132 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2020-8132?** Low severity, with a CVSS score of 3.1, published 10 May 2021.

**Which products and versions are affected?** pdf-image (npm) SEMVER:introduced=0,last_affected=2.0.0.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2020-8132?** No fixed version is recorded yet. Check the vendor's advisory in the references below. If you run it, Junglewise drafts a mitigation that fits your setup and applies it once you approve, with senior security engineers behind it.

**How is CVE-2020-8132 attacked?** It is attacked over the network.

**Am I affected by CVE-2020-8132?** Check whether you run pdf-image (npm) at an affected version. Junglewise does that check for you around the clock: connect your code, cloud and domains, and it matches new vulnerabilities like this one against what you actually run and tells you when one reaches you.

## Technical details

The pdf-image npm package (versions ≤ 2.0.0) lacks proper input validation on PDF file paths, enabling code injection attacks (CWE-20: Improper Input Validation, CWE-94: Improper Control of Generation of Code). An attacker can craft a malicious PDF file path using untrusted user input to achieve arbitrary code execution on the target system. The vulnerability requires the application to construct file paths based on user-controlled data without sanitization. No authentication or complex interaction is needed; the attack is network-accessible if the application exposes PDF conversion functionality. Patches are available in versions after 2.0.0.

## Affected products

- pdf-image pdf-image ≤ 2.0.0

## Identifiers

- CVE-2020-8132
- GHSA-rv7p-mmwq-x674

## Timeline

- 2020-02-28: disclosed
- 2021-05-10: advisory

## References

- [https://hackerone.com/reports/781664](https://hackerone.com/reports/781664)

## Related threats

- [pdf-image OS command injection via pdfFilePath](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-26830-pdf-image-os-command-injection-via-pdffilepath)
- [pdf-image command injection vulnerability](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2018-3757-pdf-image-command-injection-vulnerability)