CVE-2026-71848 — Hono: Algorithmic Complexity DoS in Language Middleware
Hono is a Web application framework that provides support for any JavaScript runtime. From 4.12.0 to 4.12.33, the languageDetector middleware is vulnerable to algorithmic complexity denial of service when processing a crafted language tag containing a large number of hyphen separated subtags. To implement progressive language tag truncation, normalizeLanguage() repeatedly calls parts.slice(0, i).join('-') for every possible prefix, so the total amount of string processing grows quadratically with the number of subtags. Language values may come from a query parameter, cookie, Accept-Language header, or URL path, depending on the detector configuration, and the default detector order enables query string, cookie, and header detection, so applications using languageDetector() may expose this processing to unauthenticated requests. An attacker may repeatedly send requests containing long, hyphen separated language tags, causing excessive CPU consumption and preventing unrelated requests from being processed. This issue is fixed in version 4.12.34.
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 0.5% (30-day exploitation probability)+6
- Technical severity (medium)+3
- 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.
No fix documented by the sources we poll. That does not mean none exists: check the vendor advisory.
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 (Honojs Hono).
- The attack is network-based and needs no privileges: restrict exposure (ACLs, VPN, WAF) until patched.
- No fix documented in the sources: reduce exposure and monitor the vendor advisory.
- Search available logs for exploit probes, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5.3 | CVSS 3.1 | Medium | 3.9 | 1.4 | security-advisories@github.com via NIST National Vulnerability Database |
| 5.3 | CVSS 3.1 | Medium | — | — | 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:L (score shown at the top: security-advisories@github.com) Weakness MITRE
Weakness class according to MITRE’s CWE catalog.
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).
Timeline
What happened to this CVE, newest first.
- 2026
- Affected products added · honojs/hono
- SSVC assessment updated
- Record published
- CVSS changed · 5.3
- Source status changed · → Deferred
- Record created in this database
- CVE published
Source activity
Repeated readings are counted rather than listed.
- 1× Official description updated · Oct 15, 2026 – Oct 15, 2026
References
3 on the record
Elsewhere on this site
Related CVEs (same products)
- Medium CVE-2026-109955 Hono 4.12.4 before 4.13.11 Middleware Bypass via serveStatic Double Decoding 2d
- Medium CVE-2026-93981 hono/jsx before 4.13.7 Cross-Site Scripting via Unescaped Strings 26d
- Medium CVE-2026-84364 Hono: Unbounded dot-notation nesting in `parseBody()` can cause memory exhaustion Sep 1, 2026
- Medium CVE-2026-84365 Hono: Incomplete fix for CVE-2026-39408: `toSSG()` still writes files outside the output directory Sep 1, 2026
- Medium CVE-2026-84363 Hono: Query parser reads parameters after the URL fragment, causing cache-key and proxy interpretation differentials Sep 1, 2026
- Medium CVE-2026-69207 Hono: ReDoS in CORS middleware via Access-Control-Request-Headers Aug 7, 2026
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 fixed version, patch or mitigation documented.
- 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-2026-71848 is "Hono: Algorithmic Complexity DoS in Language Middleware", rated Medium. It affects Hono (Honojs); versions are in the scope table. It is not in CISA KEV, which does not rule out exploitation. CVSS 5.3 describes technical severity. EPSS 0.51% 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.
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