python-markdown2 through 2.5.5 contains a denial of service vulnerability that allows remote users to exhaust CPU by submitting Markdown with unclosed inline link destinations
Affects python-markdown2Source GCVE Database
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 8.7 High.
Data as of 5 Nov 2026, 12:35 UTC
Thin evidence
One scorer or none| CNA (VulnCheck) | CVSS 4.0 | 8.7 |
|---|---|---|
| CNA (VulnCheck) | CVSS 3.1 | 7.5 |
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:N/VI:N/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:NExploitation evidence
Disclosed: evidence found.
CVE published 28 Oct 2026
Detectable: no evidence on record.
No public nuclei template indexed
Weaponized: no evidence on record.
No public exploit code indexed in Metasploit or Exploit-DB
Exploited in the wildExploited: no evidence on record.
Not in CISA KEV and no source reports exploitation
Observed by OffSeq MirageSeen by Mirage: no evidence on record.
No attack traffic recorded by OffSeq Mirage sensors
A missing step is not evidence of safety. Sources: cve.org (opens in a new tab), the Metasploit, Exploit-DB and nuclei-templates index as of 5 Nov 2026.
What to do
Affected software
| Product | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
Ubuntu 26.10python-markdown2pkg:deb/ubuntu/python-markdown2?arch=source&distro=stonkingOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 26.04 LTSpython-markdown2pkg:deb/ubuntu/python-markdown2?arch=source&distro=resoluteOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 24.04 LTSpython-markdown2pkg:deb/ubuntu/python-markdown2?arch=source&distro=nobleOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 22.04 LTSpython-markdown2pkg:deb/ubuntu/python-markdown2?arch=source&distro=jammyOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 20.04 LTSpython-markdown2pkg:deb/ubuntu/python-markdown2?arch=source&distro=focalOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Check your own hosts for these packages with threat-finder (opens in a new tab), our free open-source scanner.
Description
python-markdown2 through 2.5.5 contains a denial of service vulnerability that allows remote users to exhaust CPU by submitting Markdown with unclosed inline link destinations. Attackers can submit repeated '[a](' or '
- cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-118694 (opens in a new tab)
- github.com/trentm/python-markdown2 (opens in a new tab)
- github.com/trentm/python-markdown2/blob/2.5.5/lib/markdown2.py (opens in a new tab)
- github.com/trentm/python-markdown2/blob/2.5.5/lib/markdown2.py (opens in a new tab)
- github.com/trentm/python-markdown2/issues/750 (opens in a new tab)
- github.com/trentm/python-markdown2/pull/751 (opens in a new tab)
- vulncheck.com/advisories/python-markdown2-through-2.5.5-denial-of-service-via-unclosed-inline-link-destinations (opens in a new tab)