CVE-2026-59870 — js-yaml quadratic-complexity denial of service via YAML11_SCHEMA !!omap parsing
js-yaml is a JavaScript YAML parser and dumper. Prior to 3.15.1, 4.3.1, and 5.2.1, YAML11_SCHEMA support for the !!omap tag in src/tag/sequence/omap.ts uses omapTag.addItem() to perform a linear duplicate-key scan on every insertion, causing O(n^2) CPU consumption when yaml.load() parses a crafted ordered-map document. In v3 and v4, !!omap is active and exploitable by default. v5 doesn't use !!omap by default, and the chances of activating it are very low.This issue is fixed in 3.15.1, 4.3.1, and 5.2.1.
Who exploits it and how urgent it is
A 0–100 score combining confirmed exploitation, ransomware and APT use, public exploits, EPSS and severity.
How the score was calculated
- EPSS 0.7% (30-day exploitation probability)+8
- Technical severity (high)+6
- CISA SSVC: exploitation "poc"+5
- Automatable exploitation (SSVC)+3
The score orders the patch queue; it does not replace your asset context (internet exposure, criticality, compensating controls).
Triage
Is it exploited, how likely is exploitation, what does it touch, and how severe do the sources call it.
CISA SSVC assessment CISA
Three decision points CISA publishes for the CVEs it assesses (SSVC 2.0.3). A stakeholder decision, not a severity score.
Remediation
Fixes and mitigations documented by the sources — linked to the original advisory.
- Documented patch — github.com (NIST National Vulnerability Database)
First 24 hours
Ordered from the record’s own fields — exposure first, because you cannot patch what you have not found. A rule-generated starting point.
- Identify exposed assets running the affected vendor/product/version combinations (Nodeca Js-yaml).
- The attack is network-based and needs no privileges: restrict exposure (ACLs, VPN, WAF) until patched.
- Apply the fixed version or the patch documented under Remediation.
- Search available logs for exploit probes matching the vulnerability class (denial of service), errors and authentication anomalies.
Affected scope
Vendor, product and versions as the sources word them.
Attack characteristics
The CVSS vector, decoded. It describes the attack, not your exposure to it.
Every base score collected
Sources score independently and may disagree; each row says who scored it and under which version.
| Score | Version | Severity | Expl. | Impact | Scored by |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7.5 | CVSS 3.1 | High | 3.9 | 3.6 | security-advisories@github.com via NIST National Vulnerability Database |
| 7.5 | CVSS 3.1 | High | 3.9 | 3.6 | nvd@nist.gov via NIST National Vulnerability Database |
| 7.5 | CVSS 3.1 | High | — | — | GitHub_M via CVE Program (cve.org) e CISA ADP |
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H (score shown at the top: nvd@nist.gov) Weakness MITRE
Weakness class according to MITRE’s CWE catalog.
CWE-770 · Allocation of Resources Without Limits or Throttling
EPSS over time FIRST
Oct 13, 2026 → Oct 14, 2026 · 2 reading(s) · max 0.74%
Detection
Read off the CVSS vector and the weakness class. Starting points, not tested rules.
- Prioritize edge telemetry for the network-reachable component (proxy, WAF, IDS/IPS).
- Track CPU/memory spikes and availability drops correlated with request patterns.
Timeline
What happened to this CVE, newest first.
- 2026
- Affected products added · nodeca/js-yaml
- SSVC assessment updated
- Record published
- Fix documented
- CVSS changed · 7.5
- Source status changed · → Modified
- Record created in this database
- CVE published
Source activity
Repeated readings are counted rather than listed.
- 1× Official description updated · Oct 13, 2026 – Oct 13, 2026
References
7 on the record
- github.com/nodeca/js-yaml/security/advisories/GHSA-724g-mxrg-4qvm
- github.com/nodeca/js-yaml/commit/39f3211a2f01b3c6982710cf21434ab7060acefe
- github.com/nodeca/js-yaml/releases/tag/5.2.1
- github.com/nodeca/js-yaml/commit/22a8071ef032117bc6249c330b240ac3aa2d3ded
- github.com/nodeca/js-yaml/releases/tag/4.3.1
- github.com/nodeca/js-yaml/commit/c3cc4b0bb9ddb9af2dd9b61e0d56f5ce7983cd4a
- github.com/nodeca/js-yaml/releases/tag/3.15.1
Elsewhere on this site
Related CVEs (same products)
- High CVE-2026-84375 js-yaml: maxTotalMergeKeys does not limit CPU use for empty merge sources Sep 1, 2026
- High CVE-2026-73643 js-yaml: Exponential parsing time in the flow collections leads to denial of service Aug 13, 2026
- High CVE-2026-59868 js-yaml: YAML merge-key chains can force quadratic CPU consumption Jul 8, 2026
- High CVE-2026-59869 js-yaml: YAML merge-key chains can force quadratic CPU consumption Jul 8, 2026
- Medium CVE-2026-53550 js-yaml: Quadratic-complexity DoS in merge key handling via repeated aliases Jun 22, 2026
- Medium CVE-2025-64718 js-yaml has prototype pollution in merge (<<) Nov 13, 2025
Not in any source we poll
Listed rather than left blank: an empty field and an unmeasured one look identical on screen, and only one is a reason to look elsewhere.
- No confirmed IOCs, IP addresses, domains, file hashes, or malware artifacts supplied.
- No organization-specific asset inventory, compensating-control status, or patch deployment evidence supplied.
- No exploit packet captures, log samples, or incident case IDs supplied.
Answered from this record
Text assembled only from the fields above — no additional claims.
What should defenders know first?
CVE-2026-59870 is "js-yaml quadratic-complexity denial of service via YAML11_SCHEMA !!omap parsing", rated High. It affects Js-yaml (Nodeca); versions are in the scope table. It is not in CISA KEV, which does not rule out exploitation. CVSS 7.5 describes technical severity. EPSS 0.74% estimates the probability of exploitation in 30 days; neither replaces your asset context. First verify whether exposed or business-critical assets run the affected versions, apply vendor fixes or mitigations, and preserve logs for review.
Comments
Moderated technical discussion. Read the community guidelines.
No comments yet.
Sign in or create an account to comment and suggest corrections.