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CVE-2019-25781

Full vulnerability record from the local CVENow database.

Description

Python-Markdown 3.0 through 3.11.2 contains an algorithmic complexity vulnerability in inline link parsing that allows remote attackers to exhaust CPU through unmatched brackets. Attackers can submit short Markdown containing repeated [ or ![ characters, forcing LinkInlineProcessor.getText() and getLink() into quadratic scans that keep workers busy for minutes.

Severity
HIGH
CVSS score
8.7 (v4.0)
Vulnerability status
Awaiting Analysis
Source identifier
Published
2026-10-29 14:17:39.170000
Last modified
2026-10-29 16:19:37.750000
View original CVE JSON
{
  "id": "CVE-2019-25781",
  "sourceIdentifier": "[email protected]",
  "published": "2026-10-29T14:17:39.170",
  "lastModified": "2026-10-29T16:19:37.750",
  "vulnStatus": "Awaiting Analysis",
  "cveTags": [],
  "descriptions": [
    {
      "lang": "en",
      "value": "Python-Markdown 3.0 through 3.11.2 contains an algorithmic complexity vulnerability in inline link parsing that allows remote attackers to exhaust CPU through unmatched brackets. Attackers can submit short Markdown containing repeated [ or ![ characters, forcing LinkInlineProcessor.getText() and getLink() into quadratic scans that keep workers busy for minutes."
    }
  ],
  "affected": [
    {
      "source": "[email protected]",
      "affectedData": [
        {
          "vendor": "Python-Markdown",
          "product": "Markdown",
          "defaultStatus": "unaffected",
          "repo": "https://github.com/Python-Markdown/markdown",
          "packageURL": "pkg:pypi/markdown",
          "versions": [
            {
              "version": "3.0",
              "lessThanOrEqual": "3.11.2",
              "versionType": "custom",
              "status": "affected"
            }
          ]
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "metrics": {
    "cvssMetricV40": [
      {
        "source": "[email protected]",
        "type": "Secondary",
        "cvssData": {
          "version": "4.0",
          "vectorString": "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/E:X/CR:X/IR:X/AR:X/MAV:X/MAC:X/MAT:X/MPR:X/MUI:X/MVC:X/MVI:X/MVA:X/MSC:X/MSI:X/MSA:X/S:X/AU:X/R:X/V:X/RE:X/U:X",
          "baseScore": 8.7,
          "baseSeverity": "HIGH",
          "attackVector": "NETWORK",
          "attackComplexity": "LOW",
          "attackRequirements": "NONE",
          "privilegesRequired": "NONE",
          "userInteraction": "NONE",
          "vulnConfidentialityImpact": "NONE",
          "vulnIntegrityImpact": "NONE",
          "vulnAvailabilityImpact": "HIGH",
          "subConfidentialityImpact": "NONE",
          "subIntegrityImpact": "NONE",
          "subAvailabilityImpact": "NONE",
          "exploitMaturity": "NOT_DEFINED",
          "confidentialityRequirement": "NOT_DEFINED",
          "integrityRequirement": "NOT_DEFINED",
          "availabilityRequirement": "NOT_DEFINED",
          "modifiedAttackVector": "NOT_DEFINED",
          "modifiedAttackComplexity": "NOT_DEFINED",
          "modifiedAttackRequirements": "NOT_DEFINED",
          "modifiedPrivilegesRequired": "NOT_DEFINED",
          "modifiedUserInteraction": "NOT_DEFINED",
          "modifiedVulnConfidentialityImpact": "NOT_DEFINED",
          "modifiedVulnIntegrityImpact": "NOT_DEFINED",
          "modifiedVulnAvailabilityImpact": "NOT_DEFINED",
          "modifiedSubConfidentialityImpact": "NOT_DEFINED",
          "modifiedSubIntegrityImpact": "NOT_DEFINED",
          "modifiedSubAvailabilityImpact": "NOT_DEFINED",
          "Safety": "NOT_DEFINED",
          "Automatable": "NOT_DEFINED",
          "Recovery": "NOT_DEFINED",
          "valueDensity": "NOT_DEFINED",
          "vulnerabilityResponseEffort": "NOT_DEFINED",
          "providerUrgency": "NOT_DEFINED"
        }
      }
    ],
    "cvssMetricV31": [
      {
        "source": "[email protected]",
        "type": "Primary",
        "cvssData": {
          "version": "3.1",
          "vectorString": "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H",
          "baseScore": 7.5,
          "baseSeverity": "HIGH",
          "attackVector": "NETWORK",
          "attackComplexity": "LOW",
          "privilegesRequired": "NONE",
          "userInteraction": "NONE",
          "scope": "UNCHANGED",
          "confidentialityImpact": "NONE",
          "integrityImpact": "NONE",
          "availabilityImpact": "HIGH"
        },
        "exploitabilityScore": 3.9,
        "impactScore": 3.6
      }
    ]
  },
  "weaknesses": [
    {
      "source": "[email protected]",
      "type": "Primary",
      "description": [
        {
          "lang": "en",
          "value": "CWE-407"
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "references": [
    {
      "url": "https://github.com/Python-Markdown/markdown",
      "source": "[email protected]"
    },
    {
      "url": "https://github.com/Python-Markdown/markdown/blob/b41e0aaf1181f1a8cb200cf5a815aad7c0020d23/markdown/inlinepatterns.py#L1155-L1172",
      "source": "[email protected]"
    },
    {
      "url": "https://github.com/Python-Markdown/markdown/issues/1654",
      "source": "[email protected]"
    },
    {
      "url": "https://github.com/Python-Markdown/markdown/issues/798",
      "source": "[email protected]"
    },
    {
      "url": "https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/python-markdown-3.0-through-3.11.2-denial-of-service-via-link-bracket-parsing",
      "source": "[email protected]"
    }
  ]
}