CVE-2026-53550CWE-407

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

Medium · published June 22, 2026

CVSS v3.1
5.3
EPSS
0%
Percentile
34.8
In the wild
Unconfirmed
What it is

js-yaml is a JavaScript YAML parser and dumper. Prior to 4.2.0 and 3.15.0, 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 and 3.15.0.

The record
Technical detail
CVSS v3.1
5.3 · MEDIUM
Vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:L
CVSS v4.0
Not supplied
EPSS
0.00415 · 34.8th percentile
Weakness
CWE-407 · Inefficient Algorithmic Complexity
Published
2026-06-22T14:59Z
EPSS history
Timeline
  • 22 JUN 14:59Z
    js-yaml: Quadratic-complexity DoS in merge key handling via repeated aliases
    cvelistv5