CVE-2026-111758
markdown-it: Quadratic-time rendering of a single multi-line link reference definition with default options (regression since 14.0)
- State
- Published
- Severity
- 7.5 High
- Published
- Oct 20, 2026
- Updated
- Oct 28, 2026
- Reserved
- Oct 16, 2026
Description
markdown-it is a Markdown parser. From versions 14.1.0 to before 14.3.3, and 15.0.0 to before 15.0.3, a link reference definition whose label or title is never closed is O(n²) with default options. Continuation lines are pulled lazily with str += lineContent in src/rules_block/reference.ts, and the subsequent charCodeAt and slice calls flatten the V8 cons-string, copying everything collected so far; this runs before the rule decides the definition is invalid. No options are required to trigger it. This issue has been patched in versions 14.3.3 and 15.0.3.
Scores
| CVSS | Score | Vector | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.1 | 7.5 High | CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H | GitHub_M |
Weaknesses
Affected Products
| Product | Versions |
|---|---|
markdown-itmarkdown-it |
|
References
- https://github.com/markdown-it/markdown-it/security/advisories/GHSA-gfr2-rv44-r23c
- https://github.com/markdown-it/markdown-it/commit/48fbc465812c440020c663f040ab22deaf8f1eca
- https://github.com/markdown-it/markdown-it/commit/d99f48839d37af6fd8a2617516c43dab90755503
- https://github.com/markdown-it/markdown-it/releases/tag/14.3.3
- https://github.com/markdown-it/markdown-it/releases/tag/15.0.3
Every record here comes from the CVE Program’s CVE List. © 1999–2026 The MITRE Corporation. CVE is a registered trademark of The MITRE Corporation. The records are reproduced under the CVE Program terms of use.