CVE-2024-28243 – katex

Package

Manager: npm
Name: katex
Vulnerable Version: >=0.10.0-beta <0.16.10

Severity

Level: Medium

CVSS v3.1: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

CVSS v4.0: CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:N/VI:N/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N

EPSS: 0.00116 pctl0.31066

Details

KaTeX's maxExpand bypassed by `\edef` ### Impact KaTeX users who render untrusted mathematical expressions could encounter malicious input using `\edef` that causes a near-infinite loop, despite setting `maxExpand` to avoid such loops. This can be used as an availability attack, where e.g. a client rendering another user's KaTeX input will be unable to use the site due to memory overflow, tying up the main thread, or stack overflow. ### Patches Upgrade to KaTeX v0.16.10 to remove this vulnerability. ### Workarounds Forbid inputs containing the substring `"\\edef"` before passing them to KaTeX. (There is no easy workaround for the auto-render extension.) ### Details KaTeX supports an option named `maxExpand` which prevents infinitely recursive macros from consuming all available memory and/or triggering a stack overflow error. However, what counted as an "expansion" is a single macro expanding to any number of tokens. The expand-and-define TeX command `\edef` can be used to build up an exponential number of tokens using only a linear number of expansions according to this definition, e.g. by repeatedly doubling the previous definition. This has been corrected in KaTeX v0.16.10, where every expanded token in an `\edef` counts as an expansion. ### For more information If you have any questions or comments about this advisory: * Open an issue or security advisory in the [KaTeX repository](https://github.com/KaTeX/KaTeX/) * Email us at [katex-security@mit.edu](mailto:katex-security@mit.edu)

Metadata

Created: 2024-03-25T19:38:18Z
Modified: 2024-03-25T22:31:55Z
Source: https://github.com/github/advisory-database/blob/main/advisories/github-reviewed/2024/03/GHSA-64fm-8hw2-v72w/GHSA-64fm-8hw2-v72w.json
CWE IDs: ["CWE-606", "CWE-674"]
Alternative ID: GHSA-64fm-8hw2-v72w
Finding: F067
Auto approve: 1