CVE-2023-26485 : What You Need to Know

This CVE record pertains to a vulnerability in cmark-gfm, GitHub's fork of cmark, a CommonMark parsing and rendering library and program written in C. The vulnerability, with a polynomial time complexity issue, may result in unbounded resource exhaustion leading to a denial of service attack. The issue specifically involves quadratic complexity problems when parsing text starting with a large number of

_

characters. The vulnerability has been addressed in version 0.29.0.gfm.10, and users are strongly advised to upgrade. For those unable to upgrade immediately, it is recommended to ensure that input data originates from trusted sources.

Understanding CVE-2023-26485

This section delves into the details of the CVE-2023-26485 vulnerability in cmark-gfm.

What is CVE-2023-26485?

CVE-2023-26485 is a vulnerability in cmark-gfm that exhibits a polynomial time complexity issue, potentially leading to unbounded resource exhaustion and subsequent denial of service attacks.

The Impact of CVE-2023-26485

The vulnerability in cmark-gfm poses a significant risk by allowing for unbounded resource exhaustion, which could result in a denial of service scenario.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-26485

This section provides a deeper insight into the technical aspects of CVE-2023-26485.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability in cmark-gfm is characterized by quadratic time complexity issues during text parsing, specifically when encountering a large number of

_

characters at the beginning.

Affected Systems and Versions

The affected product is cmark-gfm, with versions prior to 0.29.0.gfm.10 being vulnerable to this issue.

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability can be exploited by crafting input data with a significant number of

_

characters, leading to exponential time complexity and potential denial of service.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address and prevent the exploitation of CVE-2023-26485, the following steps can be taken.

Immediate Steps to Take

Users are strongly advised to upgrade to version 0.29.0.gfm.10 or later to mitigate the vulnerability. Ensure that all input data is sourced from trusted and secure origins.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement secure coding practices, conduct regular vulnerability assessments, and stay updated on security advisories to enhance overall system security.

Patching and Updates

The vulnerability has been patched in version 0.29.0.gfm.10. Regularly apply updates and patches provided by the vendor to maintain a secure environment.