Inefficient RexExp complexity in generated code with .replace when transpiling named capturing groups
Summary
Inefficient RexExp complexity in generated code with .replace when transpiling named capturing groups
Original description
The description as published by the source.
Babel is a compiler for writing next generation JavaScript. When using versions of Babel prior to 7.26.10 and 8.0.0-alpha.17 to compile regular expression named capturing groups, Babel will generate a polyfill for the .replace method that has quadratic complexity on some specific replacement pattern strings (i.e. the second argument passed to .replace). Generated code is vulnerable if all the following conditions are true: Using Babel to compile regular expression named capturing groups, using the .replace method on a regular expression that contains named capturing groups, and the code using untrusted strings as the second argument of .replace. This problem has been fixed in @babel/helpers and @babel/runtime 7.26.10 and 8.0.0-alpha.17. It's likely that individual users do not directly depend on @babel/helpers, and instead depend on @babel/core (which itself depends on @babel/helpers). Upgrading to @babel/core 7.26.10 is not required, but it guarantees use of a new enough @babel/helpers version. Note that just updating Babel dependencies is not enough; one will also need to re-compile the code. No known workarounds are available.
Source: OSV.dev (Open Source Vulnerabilities) NVD GitHub Advisory OSV
Fix status by distribution
Fixed packages published by each distribution for this CVE
- Ubuntu UBUNTU-CVE-2025-27789 node-babel
References
- advisory github.com
- advisory github.com
- advisory nvd.nist.gov
- patch github.com