Resource exhaustion in Python-Markdown Markdown
CVE-2025-69534
Python-Markdown version 3.8 contain a vulnerability where malformed HTML-like sequences can cause html.parser.HTMLParser to raise an unhandled AssertionError during Markdown parsing. Because Python-Markdown does not catch this exception, any application that processes attacker-controlled Markdown may crash. This enables remote, unauthenticated Denial of Service in web applications, documentation systems, CI/CD pipelines, and any service that renders untrusted Markdown. The issue was acknowledged by the vendor and fixed in version 3.8.1. This issue causes a remote Denial of Service in any application parsing untrusted Markdown, and can lead to Information Disclosure through uncaught exceptions.
Vulnerability class: DoS (Denial of Service)
EPSS: 0.006 (43.7th percentile) — read the EPSS interpretation.
CVSS v3 metric
CVSS v3 base score 7.5 (High). Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H.
Affected products
- Python-markdown Markdown — versions 3.8
- N/a — versions n/a
Weakness classification (CWE)
References
- cve@mitre.org (Exploit, Issue Tracking)
- cve@mitre.org (Product)
- cve@mitre.org (Product)
- af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108 (Mailing List, Third Party Advisory)
- 0b0ca135-0b70-47e7-9f44-1890c2a1c46c
- 0b0ca135-0b70-47e7-9f44-1890c2a1c46c
- 0b0ca135-0b70-47e7-9f44-1890c2a1c46c
- 0b0ca135-0b70-47e7-9f44-1890c2a1c46c
- 0b0ca135-0b70-47e7-9f44-1890c2a1c46c
- 0b0ca135-0b70-47e7-9f44-1890c2a1c46c
Frequently asked questions
- What is CVE-2025-69534?
- CVE-2025-69534 is a high-severity vulnerability in Python-Markdown Markdown, classified under Uncontrolled Resource Consumption. CVSS score: 7.5/10. Published 2026-03-05.
- How severe is CVE-2025-69534?
- High severity. CVSS v3 base score is 7.5 out of 10.