CVE-2026-25153
@backstage/plugin-techdocs-node vulnerable to arbitrary code execution via MkDocs hooks
- State
- Published
- Severity
- 7.7 High
- Published
- Jan 30, 2026
- Updated
- Jul 15, 2026
- Reserved
- Jan 29, 2026
Description
Backstage is an open framework for building developer portals, and @backstage/plugin-techdocs-node provides common node.js functionalities for TechDocs. In versions of @backstage/plugin-techdocs-node prior to 1.13.11 and 1.14.1, when TechDocs is configured with `runIn: local`, a malicious actor who can submit or modify a repository's `mkdocs.yml` file can execute arbitrary Python code on the TechDocs build server via MkDocs hooks configuration. @backstage/plugin-techdocs-node versions 1.13.11 and 1.14.1 contain a fix. The fix introduces an allowlist of supported MkDocs configuration keys. Unsupported configuration keys (including `hooks`) are now removed from `mkdocs.yml` before running the generator, with a warning logged to indicate which keys were removed. Users of `@techdocs/cli` should also upgrade to the latest version, which includes the fixed `@backstage/plugin-techdocs-node` dependency. Some workarounds are available. Configure TechDocs with `runIn: docker` instead of `runIn: local` to provide container isolation, though it does not fully mitigate the risk. Limit who can modify `mkdocs.yml` files in repositories that TechDocs processes; only allow trusted contributors. Implement PR review requirements for changes to `mkdocs.yml` files to detect malicious `hooks` configurations before they are merged. Use MkDocs < 1.4.0 (e.g., 1.3.1) which does not support hooks. Note: This may limit access to newer MkDocs features. Building documentation in CI/CD pipelines using `@techdocs/cli` does not mitigate this vulnerability, as the CLI uses the same vulnerable `@backstage/plugin-techdocs-node` package.
Scores
| CVSS | Score | Vector | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.1 | 7.7 High | CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:L/A:L | GitHub_M |
| 3.1 | 7.7 High | CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:L/A:L | redhat-SADP |
Weaknesses
- CWE-94 Improper Control of Generation of Code ('Code Injection')
Affected Products
| Product | Versions |
|---|---|
backstagebackstage |
|
References
- https://github.com/backstage/backstage/security/advisories/GHSA-6jr7-99pf-8vgf
- https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2026-25153vdb-entry
- RHBZ#2435576issue-tracking
- https://security.access.redhat.com/data/csaf/v2/vex/2026/cve-2026-25153.json
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:6174vendor-advisory
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:6802vendor-advisory
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