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.
History

Wed, 28 Oct 2026 17:30:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics ssvc

{'options': {'Automatable': 'yes', 'Exploitation': 'poc', 'Technical Impact': 'partial'}, 'version': '2.0.3'}


Thu, 22 Oct 2026 14:00:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Markdown-it
Markdown-it markdown-it
Vendors & Products Markdown-it
Markdown-it markdown-it

Wed, 21 Oct 2026 00:30:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Weaknesses CWE-1046
References
Metrics threat_severity

None

threat_severity

Important


Tue, 20 Oct 2026 20:45:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
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.
Title markdown-it: Quadratic-time rendering of a single multi-line link reference definition with default options (regression since 14.0)
Weaknesses CWE-400
CWE-407
References
Metrics cvssV3_1

{'score': 7.5, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H'}


cve-icon MITRE

Status: PUBLISHED

Assigner: GitHub_M

Published: 2026-10-20T20:28:40.677Z

Updated: 2026-10-28T16:40:33.483Z

Reserved: 2026-10-16T17:52:09.081Z

Link: CVE-2026-111758

cve-icon Vulnrichment

Updated: 2026-10-28T16:40:26.580Z

cve-icon NVD

Status : Awaiting Analysis

Published: 2026-10-20T21:17:17.110

Modified: 2026-10-28T17:17:39.977

Link: CVE-2026-111758

cve-icon Redhat

Severity : Important

Publid Date: 2026-10-20T20:28:40Z

Links: CVE-2026-111758 - Bugzilla