CVE-2026-48801Public exploitNetwork attack vector

Worker-process denial of service via quadratic scan loop

Published Jul 14, 2026 · Updated Jul 14, 2026

Algorithmic complexity in linkify-it before 5.0.1 allows remote attackers to interrupt worker processes via crafted link-like text. The LinkifyIt.prototype.match loop repeatedly slices the remaining input and reruns unanchored fuzzy-link and email searches, producing quadratic CPU work. Exposure requires an application to process attacker-controlled text synchronously through match(), including Markdown rendering with linkify enabled.

CVSS severity8.7
High
EPSS probability0.37%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
Coverage for this vulnerability

See if you're affected

Explore vulnerability checks for your environment with Hinoki.

Book a demo

Summary

What happened

Algorithmic complexity in linkify-it before 5.0.1 allows remote attackers to interrupt worker processes via crafted link-like text. The LinkifyIt.prototype.match loop repeatedly slices the remaining input and reruns unanchored fuzzy-link and email searches, producing quadratic CPU work. Exposure requires an application to process attacker-controlled text synchronously through match(), including Markdown rendering with linkify enabled.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-48801
Published
Jul 14, 2026
Updated
Jul 14, 2026
Vendor
markdown-it
Product
linkify-it
Classifications
CWE-1333, T1499.004
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jul 14, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Jul 14, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

Compare your product and version with the public record. A matching version still requires validation against your environment.

Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=< 5.0.1

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

markdown-it · linkify-itversion=< 5.0.1

Published CVSS scores

8.7GitHubCVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:N/VI:N/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N
7.5NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-1333Inefficient Regular Expression Complexity
T1499.004Application or System Exploitation

Public exploit references

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

See the directory against your own environment.

Your stack

Check the software in your environment

Book a demo to see how Hinoki identifies affected software and validates exploitability in your environment.

Book a demo