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Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →No—wkhtmltopdf is no longer actively maintained upstream. GitHub archived its core repository on January 2, 2023, and the project organization says it is no longer maintained. Whether a particular installation is safe is a separate, conditional question: it depends on the exact binary and wrapper, what HTML and options they process, and the permissions and isolation around the renderer.
Is wkhtmltopdf still maintained?
No. GitHub marks the core repository read-only after its January 2, 2023 archive date: the wkhtmltopdf repository. The project organization is also marked archived and says it is no longer maintained: the wkhtmltopdf organization.
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The release records need to be distinguished. The core releases page lists version 0.12.6 with a release date of June 10; its record does not establish a year in the information cited here. A separate packaging repository lists 0.12.6.1 r3, released May 22, 2023. That packaging revision is not a new upstream core release. Check the release pages for their records: core releases and packaging releases.
Is it safe to use?
There is no evidence here to support either a blanket claim that every wkhtmltopdf installation is exploitable or a guarantee that a particular installation is safe. The project’s archived status means upstream maintenance and new fixes should not be expected. The risk in a deployment depends on the build and any downstream patches, the wrapper and its option handling, whether untrusted HTML or render options reach the process, and the process’s access to files and networks.
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What the 0.12.6 hardening note does—and does not—say
The 0.12.6 release notes list “BREAKING CHANGE: block local filesystem access by default.” This documents a change to the default for local file access; it does not establish that every dangerous input or network behavior is blocked, nor does it certify all builds as safe. See the 0.12.6 release notes.
Recent advisories concern wrappers
A July 2026 Openwall advisory describes command injection in affected versions of the Perl wrapper Catalyst::View::Wkhtmltopdf before 0.6.1 when user-controlled render options are not validated. The advisory recommends upgrading that wrapper to 0.6.1 or later. It is a finding about the wrapper’s handling of options, not evidence that the same defect is in the wkhtmltopdf core executable: Openwall advisory.
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NVD’s CVE-2026-16770 record describes a separate wrapper issue: PDF::WebKit versions up to 1.2 convert HTML meta-tag values into wkhtmltopdf command-line options. This is also a wrapper-specific finding, not a general claim that every core installation has that vulnerability: NVD CVE-2026-16770.
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These examples do not amount to a complete vulnerability inventory for every core build, downstream package, or deployment. For a definitive assessment, identify the exact components in your installation and review the advisories and security records that apply to them.
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What to check before keeping an existing installation
- Inventory the components. Record the exact wkhtmltopdf binary and package version, its source or distributor, and every wrapper or application that invokes it. Do not treat a packaging revision as an upstream core release.
- Trace untrusted input. Determine whether users can supply HTML, URLs, metadata, command options, or other values that affect rendering. Validate values and strictly allowlist any user-controlled options; do not pass arbitrary input through to a command line.
- Limit process permissions. Run the renderer with only the filesystem and network access it needs. Consider process- or container-level restrictions appropriate to your deployment. The 0.12.6 default concerning local filesystem access is not a substitute for isolating the process.
- Review wrapper advisories. If you use Catalyst::View::Wkhtmltopdf, check whether it is an affected version and follow the advisory’s upgrade guidance. If you use PDF::WebKit, assess whether the described meta-tag-to-option behavior applies to your integration.
- Test before changing versions or migrating. Compare representative documents, including long pages, fonts, images, links, headers and footers, and any application-specific rendering options. Verify both the PDF output and the behavior of failure cases before deploying a change.
- Plan a migration where practical. Compare candidate renderers against your templates, operational constraints, security requirements, and maintenance expectations. The evidence cited here does not evaluate specific alternatives or establish a single best replacement.
When should you migrate?
Migration is especially worth prioritizing if the renderer processes untrusted content or options, runs with broad file or network access, or depends on a wrapper affected by a security advisory. A controlled, isolated legacy workflow with trusted inputs may present a different risk profile, but the lack of upstream maintenance remains a reason to document the exception and make a migration plan. No source cited here establishes a universal deadline or a safe configuration for every use case.
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