---
id: CVE-2025-53000
aliases:
  - GHSA-xm59-rqc7-hhvf
  - PYSEC-2026-1691
title: >-
  nbconvert has an uncontrolled search path that leads to unauthorized code
  execution on Windows
summary: >-
  nbconvert has an uncontrolled search path that leads to unauthorized code
  execution on Windows
severity: high
vendor: nbconvert
product: nbconvert
ecosystem: pip
affected:
  - nbconvert < 7.17.0
patched:
  - nbconvert 7.17.0
published: '2025-12-18'
updated: '2026-09-10'
sourceUpdated: '2026-09-10T03:50:32.307876772Z'
source: OSV
sourceUrl: 'https://osv.dev/vulnerability/GHSA-xm59-rqc7-hhvf'
references:
  - url: >-
      https://github.com/jupyter/nbconvert/security/advisories/GHSA-xm59-rqc7-hhvf
  - url: 'https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-53000'
  - url: 'https://github.com/jupyter/nbconvert/issues/2258'
  - url: >-
      https://github.com/jupyter/nbconvert/commit/c9ac1d1040459ed1ff9eb34e9918ce5a87cf9d71
  - url: 'https://github.com/jupyter/nbconvert'
  - url: >-
      https://github.com/jupyter/nbconvert/blob/4f61702f5c7524d8a3c4ac0d5fc33a6ac2fa36a7/nbconvert/preprocessors/svg2pdf.py#L104
  - url: 'https://github.com/jupyter/nbconvert/releases/tag/v7.17.0'
  - url: 'https://www.imperva.com/blog/code-execution-in-jupyter-notebook-exports'
tags:
  - osv
  - pip
epss: 0.0026
epssPercentile: 0.15766
ingestedAt: '2026-07-08T18:25:54.202Z'
---

## Overview

### Summary

On Windows, converting a notebook containing SVG output to a PDF results in unauthorized code execution. Specifically, a third party can create a `inkscape.bat` file that defines a [Windows batch script](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Batch_file), capable of arbitrary code execution.

When a user runs `jupyter nbconvert --to pdf` on a notebook containing SVG output to a PDF on a Windows platform from this directory, the `inkscape.bat` file is run unexpectedly.

### Details
_Give all details on the vulnerability. Pointing to the incriminated source code is very helpful for the maintainer._

`nbconvert` searches for an `inkscape` executable when converting notebooks to PDFs here: https://github.com/jupyter/nbconvert/blob/4f61702f5c7524d8a3c4ac0d5fc33a6ac2fa36a7/nbconvert/preprocessors/svg2pdf.py#L104

The MITRE page on [CWE-427 (Uncontrolled Search Path Element)](https://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/427.html) summarizes the root cause succinctly:

> In Windows-based systems, when the `LoadLibrary` or `LoadLibraryEx` function is called with a DLL name that does not contain a fully qualified path, the function follows a search order that includes two path elements that might be uncontrolled:
> - the directory from which the program has been loaded
> - the current working directory

### PoC

_Complete instructions, including specific configuration details, to reproduce the vulnerability._

1. Create a directory containing: 

    - A hidden bat file called `inkscape.bat` containing `msg * "You've been hacked!"`

    - A dummy ipynb file called `Machine_Learning.ipynb`

2. Run the command `jupyter nbconvert --to pdf Machine_Learning.ipynb`.

3. Wait a few seconds, and you should see a popup showing the message "You've been hacked!" 

### Impact

All Windows users.

## Affected packages

- `nbconvert < 7.17.0`

## Remediation

Upgrade to a patched release:

- `nbconvert 7.17.0`