Reader-thread hang via partially escaped history pattern
Published Sep 23, 2026 · Updated Sep 23, 2026
Inefficient regex processing in JLine 3.0.0 through 3.30.14 and 4.0.0 through 4.3.0 allows local users to hang a reader thread. DefaultHistory.matchPatterns translates HISTORY_IGNORE into a Java regex but leaves metacharacters such as parentheses and plus signs unescaped, enabling catastrophic backtracking. Exploitation requires control of application or user configuration; the pattern is reevaluated whenever a command enters history, consuming CPU and indefinitely blocking that reader session.
Summary
What happened
Inefficient regex processing in JLine 3.0.0 through 3.30.14 and 4.0.0 through 4.3.0 allows local users to hang a reader thread. DefaultHistory.matchPatterns translates HISTORY_IGNORE into a Java regex but leaves metacharacters such as parentheses and plus signs unescaped, enabling catastrophic backtracking. Exploitation requires control of application or user configuration; the pattern is reevaluated whenever a command enters history, consuming CPU and indefinitely blocking that reader session.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2026-77420
- Published
- Sep 23, 2026
- Updated
- Sep 23, 2026
- Vendor
- JLine
- Product
- JLine
- Classifications
- CWE-1333, T1499
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- authenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Sep 23, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Sep 23, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.
Exploitability
Present is not the same as exploitable
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Is a vulnerable build present?
Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.
- Affected versionversion=>= 3.0.0, < 3.30.15
- Affected versionversion=>= 4.0.0, < 4.3.1
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
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.
Activity data is delayed. The latest report is Sep 28, 2026.
Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
- Upstream HISTORY_IGNORE ReDoS proof of conceptproof of concept · demonstrated
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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