CVE-2025-27789

Inefficient RexExp complexity in generated code with .replace when transpiling named capturing groups

MEDIUM
6.2
CVSS Score
Published: March 11, 2025 at 07:09 PM UTC
Updated: June 17, 2026 at 09:04 AM UTC
1 product affected across 1 vendorBabel

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Severity
MEDIUM6.2
Exploit prediction
EPSS 0.6%
SSVC
PoC

Description

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.

Affected

Our own answer: ranges merged, affected separated from platform-only, with confidence and review flags.

v < 7.26.10v < 8.0.0-alpha.17
Affected range stops below 7.26.10, so it looks safe — our inference, not a vendor statement
Affected range stops below 8.0.0-alpha.17, so it looks safe — our inference, not a vendor statement

Remediation

No guide yet

No remediation guidance has been written for this CVE yet, and no fixed version or vendor advisory is recorded against it.

SSVC — Action Prioritization

SSVCPoCNot automatablePartial impact

SSVC signals action urgency (what to patch first), separate from CVSS which measures severity.

CVSS

6.2MEDIUMGitHub_M
Attack Vector
LOCAL
Complexity
LOW
Privileges
NONE
User Interaction
NONE
Scope
UNCHANGED
Confidentiality
NONE
Integrity
NONE
Availability
HIGH
Vector?

Quick Info

StatusDEFERRED
CWE
CWE-1333

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