title: KaTeX's maxExpand bypassed by \edef
description: KaTeX is a JavaScript library for TeX math rendering on the web. KaTeX users who render untrusted mathematical expressions could encounter malicious input using `\edef` that causes a near-infinite loop, despite setting `maxExpand` to avoid such loops. This can be used as an availability attack, where e.g. a client rendering another user's KaTeX input will be unable to use the site due to memory overflow, tying up the main thread, or stack overflow. Upgrade to KaTeX v0.16.10 to remove this vulnerability.
problem types: CWE-674: Uncontrolled Recursion
affected:
{
vendor: KaTeX
product: KaTeX
versions:
version: >= v0.10.0-beta, < 0.16.10, status: affected
}
metrics:
cvssV3_1: [
attackComplexity: LOW
attackVector: NETWORK
availabilityImpact: HIGH
baseScore: 6.5
baseSeverity: MEDIUM
confidentialityImpact: NONE
integrityImpact: NONE
privilegesRequired: LOW
scope: UNCHANGED
userInteraction: NONE
vectorString: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
version: 3.1
]