CVE-2026-48801

linkify-it: Quadratic algorithmic complexity in LinkifyIt#match scan loop

Published Jul 14, 2026 CVSS 4.0 · 8.7 High EPSS < 1% KEV · Not listed
Description
linkify-it is a links recognition library with full Unicode support. Prior to 5.0.1, LinkifyIt.prototype.match, the package's primary public API, has O(N²) algorithmic complexity for inputs containing many fuzzy links or emails because the JavaScript-level scan loop re-slices input and re-runs unanchored regex searches on progressively shorter tails. Any service that synchronously renders untrusted Markdown with linkify:true on a request hot path can inherit a worker-process denial of service triggerable by a tens-of-KB request body. This issue is fixed in version 5.0.1.

Remediation

No solution or workaround provided in the CVE record

Tracking

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Advisories

Source ID Title
Github GHSA Github GHSA GHSA-22p9-wv53-3rq4 LinkifyIt#match scan loop has quadratic algorithmic complexity
History
Type Values Removed Values Added
References
Metrics threat_severity

None

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'}

threat_severity

Moderate

Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Markdown-it
Markdown-it linkify-it
Vendors & Products Markdown-it
Markdown-it linkify-it
Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics ssvc

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

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description linkify-it is a links recognition library with full Unicode support. Prior to 5.0.1, LinkifyIt.prototype.match, the package's primary public API, has O(N²) algorithmic complexity for inputs containing many fuzzy links or emails because the JavaScript-level scan loop re-slices input and re-runs unanchored regex searches on progressively shorter tails. Any service that synchronously renders untrusted Markdown with linkify:true on a request hot path can inherit a worker-process denial of service triggerable by a tens-of-KB request body. This issue is fixed in version 5.0.1.
Title linkify-it: Quadratic algorithmic complexity in LinkifyIt#match scan loop
Weaknesses CWE-1333
References
Metrics cvssV4_0

{'score': 8.7, 'vector': 'CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:N/VI:N/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N'}

Weaknesses

Sources

Status
PUBLISHED
Assigner
GitHub_M
Published
Updated
Jul 15, 2026, 12:56 PM
Reserved
May 22, 2026, 8:18 PM
Status
Analyzed
Published
Jul 14, 2026, 9:17 PM
Modified
Oct 24, 2026, 9:10 PM
Severity
Moderate
Public date
Jul 14, 2026, 8:03 PM