CVE-2026-59868
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Description
A flaw was found in js-yaml, a JavaScript YAML parser and dumper. When merge keys are enabled, a remote attacker could exploit this vulnerability by crafting a YAML document where a chain of mappings uses merge keys, each merging the previous one. This can lead to a significant increase in CPU time required to parse the document, resulting in a Denial of Service (DoS) for the affected system.
Statement
js-yaml versions 5.0.0 through 5.1.x are vulnerable to a denial of service. When merge keys ('<<') are enabled during YAML parsing, js-yaml re-merges the accumulated mapping into each subsequent mapping in a chain. A document consisting of a linear chain of mappings that each merge the previous one causes quadratic (O(n^2)) CPU consumption relative to input size, even though the document size itself grows only linearly. This can be triggered via yaml.load() on untrusted YAML input that uses merge keys. Fixed in js-yaml 5.2.0.
Mitigation
Upgrade to js-yaml 5.2.0 or later. Where an immediate upgrade is not possible, avoid parsing untrusted YAML documents that use merge keys ('<<'), or apply size and time limits when parsing untrusted YAML input.
Additional information
- This content is not included.Bugzilla 2498114: js-yaml: js-yaml: Denial of Service via quadratic CPU time parsing with merge keys
- Content from cwe.mitre.org is not included.CWE-1333: Inefficient Regular Expression Complexity
Affected Packages and Issued Red Hat Security Errata
Unless explicitly stated as not affected, all previous versions of packages in any minor update stream of a product listed here should be assumed vulnerable, although may not have been subject to full analysis.
| Products / Services | Components | State | Errata |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cryostat 4 | cryostat/cryostat-openshift-console-plugin-rhel9 | Not affected | |
| Red Hat Discovery 2 | discovery/discovery-ui-rhel9 | Fixed | RHSA-2026:61783 |
| Red Hat Hardened Images | dotnet8-0-main | Fixed | RHSA-2026:26994 |
| Red Hat Hardened Images | nodejs26-main | Fixed | RHSA-2026:33866 |
| Red Hat Hardened Images | nodejs24-main | Fixed | RHSA-2026:34478 |
| Red Hat Hardened Images | rust-main | Fixed | RHSA-2026:34975 |
| Red Hat Hardened Images | nodejs22-main | Fixed | RHSA-2026:35272 |
| Red Hat Hardened Images | nodejs25-main | Fixed | RHSA-2026:7378 |
| Red Hat Hardened Images | yarnpkg-main | Fixed | RHSA-2026:7655 |
| Red Hat Hardened Images | nodejs20-main | Fixed | RHSA-2026:9455 |
| No matching records found | |||
Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS) Score Details
Important note
CVSS scores for open source components depend on vendor-specific factors (e.g. version or build chain). Therefore, Red Hat's score and impact rating can be different from NVD and other vendors. Red Hat remains the authoritative CVE Naming Authorities (CNA) source for its products and services (see Red Hat classifications ).
CVSS v3 Score Breakdown
| Red Hat | NVD | cve.org | |
|---|---|---|---|
| CVSS v3 Base Score | 7.5 | 7.5 | 5.3 |
| Attack Vector | Network | Network | Network |
| Attack Complexity | Low | Low | Low |
| Privileges Required | None | None | None |
| User Interaction | None | None | None |
| Scope | Unchanged | Unchanged | Unchanged |
| Confidentiality Impact | None | None | None |
| Integrity Impact | None | None | None |
| Availability Impact | High | High | Low |
CVSS v3 Vector
Red Hat CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
NVD CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
cve.org CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:L
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Red Hat's CVSS v3 score or Impact different from other vendors?
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My product is listed as "Under investigation" or "Affected", when will Red Hat release a fix for this vulnerability?
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- "Affected" means that our Analysis Team has determined that this product is affected by this vulnerability and might release a fix to address this in the near future.
What can I do if my product is listed as "Will not fix"?
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- Upgrade to a supported product version that includes a fix for this vulnerability (recommended).
- Apply a mitigation (if one exists).
- Open a This content is not included.support case to request a prioritization of releasing a fix for this vulnerability.
What can I do if my product is listed as "Fix deferred"?
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- Apply a mitigation (if one exists).
- Open a This content is not included.support case to request a prioritization of releasing a fix for this vulnerability.
- Red Hat Engineering focuses on addressing high-priority issues based on their complexity or limited lifecycle support. Therefore, lower-priority issues will not receive immediate fixes.
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