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]"
}
]
}