# CVE-2026-44017: Docling Zip Slip path traversal in EasyOCR model download

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-44017-docling-zip-slip-path-traversal-in-easyocr-model-download  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2026-06-24. Updated: 2026-06-24  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2026-44017 · Severity: high · CVSS 7.5 · Published 2026-06-24

Docling is a tool used to convert various document formats into formats suitable for AI applications. A security flaw in how it downloads AI models could allow an attacker to overwrite critical system files if they can intercept the download process. This could lead to complete system takeover, data theft, or permanent backdoors on the affected machine.

Technologies: [IBM Docling](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/docling), [docling (PyPI)](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/pypi-docling). Vendors: [IBM](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/ibm), [PyPI](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/pypi).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2026-44017 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-44017 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2026-44017?** High severity, with a CVSS score of 7.5, published 24 June 2026.

**Which products and versions are affected?** IBM Docling < 2.91.0; docling (PyPI) ECOSYSTEM:introduced=0,fixed=2.91.0.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2026-44017?** Yes. docling (PyPI): upgrade to 2.91.0 or later. Junglewise finds every place you run it, drafts the upgrade and applies it once you approve.

**How is CVE-2026-44017 attacked?** It is attacked over the network, in a software library.

**Am I affected by CVE-2026-44017?** Check whether you run IBM Docling or docling (PyPI) 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.

## How to fix

- docling (PyPI): upgrade to 2.91.0 or later

  ```sh
  pip install "docling>=2.91.0"
  ```


## Technical details

A path traversal vulnerability (Zip Slip) exists in Docling's EasyOCR model download functionality prior to version 2.91.0. The component extracts ZIP archives without validating that the member paths remain within the intended target directory. An attacker who can compromise the download source—via a supply chain attack, DNS spoofing, or a Man-in-the-Middle (MITM) attack—can provide a malicious archive containing files with '..' sequences. This allows the attacker to write arbitrary files to any location writable by the process, potentially overwriting Python scripts or system binaries to achieve remote code execution. The fix in version 2.91.0 implements path validation using os.path.realpath() to ensure all extracted files stay within the designated directory.

## Affected products

- docling-project Docling < 2.91.0

## Identifiers

- CVE-2026-44017
- GHSA-cjqg-rq2h-2fvj
- PYSEC-2026-2143

## Timeline

- 2026-06-02: advisory: GitHub Security Advisory published
- 2026-04-23: patched: Version 2.91.0 released
- 2026-06-24: disclosed: CVE published to NVD

## References

- [https://github.com/docling-project/docling/releases/tag/v2.91.0](https://github.com/docling-project/docling/releases/tag/v2.91.0)
- [https://github.com/docling-project/docling/security/advisories/GHSA-cjqg-rq2h-2fvj](https://github.com/docling-project/docling/security/advisories/GHSA-cjqg-rq2h-2fvj)

## Related threats

- [Docling METS-GBS archive member limit enforced after full enumeration](https://junglewise.ai/threats/duplicate-advisory-docling-mets-gbs-archive-member-limit-enforced-after-087423a8)
- [Docling arbitrary filesystem read via unvalidated xlink:href in ODF images](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-105751-docling-simplifies-document-processing-by-parsing-diverse)
- [Docling local file disclosure in HTML rendering](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-105750-docling-simplifies-document-processing-by-parsing-diverse)
- [Docling unbounded table span allocation denial of service](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-105749-docling-simplifies-document-processing-by-parsing-diverse)
- [IBM Docling arbitrary local file read via JSON backend](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-105748-docling-simplifies-document-processing-by-parsing-diverse)