CVE-2026-53550 PUBLISHED

js-yaml: Quadratic-complexity DoS in merge key handling via repeated aliases

Assigner: GitHub_M
Reserved: 09.06.2026 Published: 22.06.2026 Updated: 22.06.2026

js-yaml is a JavaScript YAML parser and dumper. Prior to 4.2.0, a crafted YAML document can trigger algorithmic CPU exhaustion in js-yaml merge-key processing (<<) by repeating the same alias many times in a merge sequence. This causes quadratic parse-time behavior relative to input size and can block a Node.js worker/event loop for seconds with a relatively small payload (tens of KB), resulting in denial of service. The issue is in merge handling inside lib/loader.js. This vulnerability is fixed in 4.2.0.

Metrics

CVSS Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:L
CVSS Score: 5.3

Product Status

Vendor nodeca
Product js-yaml
Versions
  • Version < 4.2.0 is affected

References

Problem Types

  • CWE-407: Inefficient Algorithmic Complexity CWE