CVE-2026-84375: js-yaml: maxTotalMergeKeys does not limit CPU use for empty merge sources
Description
js-yaml is a JavaScript YAML parser and dumper. From 3.0.0 until 3.15.2, 4.3.2, and 5.4.1, maxTotalMergeKeys in lib/js-yaml/loader.js and lib/loader.js does not count empty mapping sources while processing the merge key <<. An attacker can alias a large sequence of empty mappings into many merge targets, causing O(N * K) processing while totalMergeKeys remains unchanged and the configured resource limit is never reached. A relatively small YAML document can therefore cause prolonged CPU consumption in applications that parse untrusted YAML, and merge processing is enabled by default on these release lines. In v3 & v4, merge is enabled by default so the severity score is higher. This issue is fixed in versions 3.15.2, 4.3.2, and 5.4.1.
Vector CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H · CWE-400, CWE-407
Tracked companies
Mapped from the CVE’s affected-product data, NVD CPE matches, vendor advisories or package feeds. A mapping means the vendor’s software is named, not that its hosted service was exposed.
Status incidents that name it
No tracked status incident names this CVE.
Affected vendors and products
nodeca: js-yaml
References
- CVE record on cve.org (opens in new tab)
- NVD entry (opens in new tab)
- github.com/nodeca/js-yaml/commit/3485bc06ff8a0251505f44a00414d90df2466639 (opens in new tab)
- github.com/nodeca/js-yaml/commit/6a8e05f9a485188ed730ac81e81ae221352ef480 (opens in new tab)
- github.com/nodeca/js-yaml/commit/d90b6612a5a84385bdcb556c44578eac76dc0f6b (opens in new tab)
- github.com/nodeca/js-yaml/pull/797 (opens in new tab)
- github.com/nodeca/js-yaml/releases/tag/3.15.2 (opens in new tab)
- github.com/nodeca/js-yaml/releases/tag/4.3.2 (opens in new tab)
- github.com/nodeca/js-yaml/releases/tag/5.4.1 (opens in new tab)
- github.com/nodeca/js-yaml/security/advisories/GHSA-2883-xcg3-v3hh (opens in new tab)
- CVE records from the CVE Program (cve.org). CVE® is a registered trademark of The MITRE Corporation. (opens in new tab)
- This product uses data from the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. (opens in new tab)
- Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog from CISA. (opens in new tab)
- EPSS scores from FIRST (Exploit Prediction Scoring System). (opens in new tab)