CVE-2026-68750Network attack vector

CPU exhaustion via quadratic sibling re-flattening

Published Aug 6, 2026 · Updated Aug 6, 2026

Algorithmic complexity in html_sanitize_ex 0.3.1 through 1.4.4 and 1.5.0-rc.0 through 1.5.2 allows remote attackers to exhaust resources. The HtmlSanitizeEx.Traverser.traverse/2 list clause recursively processes each tail, then flattens the already flattened result, repeatedly copying and walking the remaining siblings. Every public sanitizer entry point reaches the clause without a special scrubber or disallowed tags, so a flat sibling sequence can occupy a scheduler and consume server CPU and memory.

CVSS severity8.2
High
EPSS probability0.47%
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 html_sanitize_ex 0.3.1 through 1.4.4 and 1.5.0-rc.0 through 1.5.2 allows remote attackers to exhaust resources. The HtmlSanitizeEx.Traverser.traverse/2 list clause recursively processes each tail, then flattens the already flattened result, repeatedly copying and walking the remaining siblings. Every public sanitizer entry point reaches the clause without a special scrubber or disallowed tags, so a flat sibling sequence can occupy a scheduler and consume server CPU and memory.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-68750
Published
Aug 6, 2026
Updated
Aug 6, 2026
Vendor
René Föhring
Product
html_sanitize_ex
Classifications
CWE-407, CAPEC-130, T1499.003
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Aug 6, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 6, 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=0.3.1 <1.5.3
  2. Affected versionversion=69ea11d61525c470b39b6860d024770d5573ff1f <9f5ccedbed230930813f992a1e6906fcf485981e

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

René Föhring · html_sanitize_exversion=0.3.1 <1.5.3; version=69ea11d61525c470b39b6860d024770d5573ff1f <9f5ccedbed230930813f992a1e6906fcf485981e

Published CVSS scores

8.2Erlang Ecosystem FoundationCVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:P/PR:N/UI:N/VC:N/VI:N/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N
7.5NIST National Vulnerability DatabaseCVSS: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 exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-407Inefficient Algorithmic Complexity
CAPEC-130Excessive Allocation
T1499.003Application Exhaustion Flood

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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