CVE-2025-69534

python-markdown: denial of service via malformed HTML-like sequences

Published Mar 5, 2026 CVSS 3.1 · 7.5 High EPSS < 1% KEV · Not listed
Description
Python-Markdown version 3.8 contain a vulnerability where malformed HTML-like sequences can cause html.parser.HTMLParser to raise an unhandled AssertionError during Markdown parsing. Because Python-Markdown does not catch this exception, any application that processes attacker-controlled Markdown may crash. This enables remote, unauthenticated Denial of Service in web applications, documentation systems, CI/CD pipelines, and any service that renders untrusted Markdown. The issue was acknowledged by the vendor and fixed in version 3.8.1. This issue causes a remote Denial of Service in any application parsing untrusted Markdown, and can lead to Information Disclosure through uncaught exceptions.

Remediation

No solution or workaround provided in the CVE record

Tracking

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Advisories

Source ID Title
Debian DLA Debian DLA DLA-4827-1 python3.11 security update
Github GHSA Github GHSA GHSA-5wmx-573v-2qwq Python-Markdown has an Uncaught Exception
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8509-1 Python vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8614-1 Python vulnerabilities
History
Type Values Removed Values Added
CPEs cpe:2.3:a:python-markdown:markdown:3.8:*:*:*:*:python:*:*
Type Values Removed Values Added
Weaknesses CWE-400
Metrics cvssV3_1

{'score': 8.2, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:H'}

ssvc

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

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'}

Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Python-markdown
Python-markdown markdown
Vendors & Products Python-markdown
Python-markdown markdown
Type Values Removed Values Added
Title python-markdown: denial of service via malformed HTML-like sequences
Weaknesses CWE-617
References
Metrics threat_severity

None

cvssV3_1

{'score': 8.2, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:H'}

threat_severity

Important

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description Python-Markdown version 3.8 contain a vulnerability where malformed HTML-like sequences can cause html.parser.HTMLParser to raise an unhandled AssertionError during Markdown parsing. Because Python-Markdown does not catch this exception, any application that processes attacker-controlled Markdown may crash. This enables remote, unauthenticated Denial of Service in web applications, documentation systems, CI/CD pipelines, and any service that renders untrusted Markdown. The issue was acknowledged by the vendor and fixed in version 3.8.1. This issue causes a remote Denial of Service in any application parsing untrusted Markdown, and can lead to Information Disclosure through uncaught exceptions.
References
Weaknesses

Sources

Status
PUBLISHED
Assigner
mitre
Published
Updated
Nov 10, 2026, 12:38 PM
Reserved
Jan 9, 2026, 12:00 AM
Status
Modified
Published
Mar 5, 2026, 3:16 PM
Modified
Nov 10, 2026, 1:18 PM
Severity
Important
Public date
Mar 5, 2026, 12:00 AM