node-re2: String.prototype.replace(re2, template) aborts the Node process (uncatchable ToLocalChecked on empty MaybeLocal) when the result exceeds V8's max string length

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No collected risk observation for these identifiers. This does not establish absence of exploitation or a zero probability.

node-re2 provides RE2 regular expression bindings for Node.js. Prior to version 1.25.1, the WrappedRE2::Replace function built its replacement result and passed it to V8 using ToLocalChecked without checking for the empty MaybeLocal that V8 returns when the resulting string or buffer exceeds V8's maximum string length. When a global replace uses an output amplifying replacement template, the result can grow quadratically with the input size, and once the result exceeds V8's maximum string length, the unchecked ToLocalChecked call causes a fatal, uncatchable process abort instead of a catchable exception. This issue is fixed in version 1.25.1.

Source published

6 Aug 2026 21:19:32 UTC

Source modified

7 Aug 2026 17:13:08 UTC

Observed here

23 Oct 2026 15:48:27 UTC

Source terms

CVE Program Terms of Use

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CVSS 3.1 · 6.2 CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

node-re2 provides RE2 regular expression bindings for Node.js. Prior to version 1.25.1, the WrappedRE2::Replace function built its replacement result and passed it to V8 using ToLocalChecked without checking for the empty MaybeLocal that V8 returns when the resulting string or buffer exceeds V8's maximum string length. When a global replace uses an output amplifying replacement template, the result can grow quadratically with the input size, and once the result exceeds V8's maximum string length, the unchecked ToLocalChecked call causes a fatal, uncatchable process abort instead of a catchable exception. This issue is fixed in version 1.25.1.

Source published

Aug 6, 2026, 9:19:32 PM (timezone not stated)

Source modified

Aug 7, 2026, 5:13:08 PM (timezone not stated)

Observed here

7 Nov 2026 14:23:19 UTC

Source terms

ENISA EUVD · source terms and attribution apply

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This view projects the publisher's source fields for reading; the original JSON retains additional fields and CVE enrichment containers. Attribution: euvd · ENISA EUVD · source terms and attribution apply. Source text is retained; field grouping and change labels are provided by ChangeIntel.

EUVD CVSS 3.1 · 6.2 CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

node-re2 provides RE2 regular expression bindings for Node.js. Prior to version 1.25.1, the WrappedRE2::Replace function built its replacement result and passed it to V8 using ToLocalChecked without checking for the empty MaybeLocal that V8 returns when the resulting string or buffer exceeds V8's maximum string length. When a global replace uses an output amplifying replacement template, the result can grow quadratically with the input size, and once the result exceeds V8's maximum string length, the unchecked ToLocalChecked call causes a fatal, uncatchable process abort instead of a catchable exception. This issue is fixed in version 1.25.1.

Source published

6 Aug 2026 22:18:29 UTC

Source modified

24 Oct 2026 15:10:00 UTC

Observed here

25 Oct 2026 15:18:57 UTC

Source terms

NIST NVD usage terms; underlying source attribution retained

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This view projects the publisher's source fields for reading; the original JSON retains additional fields and CVE enrichment containers. Attribution: nvd · NIST NVD usage terms; underlying source attribution retained. Source text is retained; field grouping and change labels are provided by ChangeIntel.

CVSS 3.1 · [email protected] · Secondary · 6.2 CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

## Description `WrappedRE2::Replace` builds the replacement result and hands it to V8 with `.ToLocalChecked()` **without checking for the empty `MaybeLocal`** that V8 returns when the string/buffer exceeds its maximum length: `lib/replace.cc` (v1.24.1): ```cpp // L553 — Buffer return path info.GetReturnValue().Set(Nan::CopyBuffer(result.data(), result.size()).ToLocalChecked()); // L556 — String return path info.GetReturnValue().Set(Nan::New(result).ToLocalChecked()); ``` When a global replace uses an output-amplifying template — `$'` (text after the match) or `` $` `` (text before the match) — the result grows to **O(input²)**. For an input of ~40,000+ identical single-char matches the result exceeds V8's `String::kMaxLength` (~536,870,888 chars on 64-bit). `Nan::New(result)` then returns an **empty `MaybeLocal`**, and the unchecked `.ToLocalChecked()` calls `v8::Utils::ReportApiFailure` → **`FATAL ERROR: v8::ToLocalChecked Empty MaybeLocal`** → `abort()` (SIGABRT). This is an **uncatchable** crash: it is not a JavaScript exception, so a surrounding `try/catch` cannot stop it — the entire Node process (or worker) dies. **The built-in regex engine handles the identical case correctly** by throwing a *catchable* `RangeError: Invalid string length`. node-re2 diverges from that contract and aborts instead. ## Proof of concept ``` npm i re2 node poc.js ``` ```js const RE2 = require('re2'); // Built-in engine: same case -> CATCHABLE RangeError (correct) try { 'a'.repeat(50000).replace(/a/g, "$'"); } catch (e) { console.log('native:', e.constructor.name, e.message); } // RangeError: Invalid string length // re2: ABORTS the whole process (uncatchable; try/catch does not help) 'a'.repeat(50000).replace(new RE2('a', 'g'), "$'"); // -> FATAL ERROR: v8::ToLocalChecked Empty MaybeLocal (process exits 134 / SIGABRT) ``` Observed (Node v24, clean `npm i re2` → [email protected]): native branch prints `RangeError: Invalid string length`; the re2 branch aborts with `FATAL ERROR: v8::ToLocalChecked Empty MaybeLocal`, stack top `WrappedRE2::Replace`, process exit code **134**. Threshold matches the mechanism precisely: input of 30,000 chars completes; 40,000 aborts (30000²/2 ≈ 4.5e8 < 5.37e8 max; 40000²/2 ≈ 8e8 > max). `$&`/constant templates and non-global replaces do not amplify and do not crash. ## Impact A remote, unauthenticated denial of service against any service that runs `String.prototype.replace` / the re2 `[Symbol.replace]` path where either the **replacement template** (containing `$'` or `` $` ``) or the **input size** is attacker-influenced. Because the failure is a native `abort()`, it cannot be contained by `try/catch` or domains — one request takes down the whole process/worker. This is especially impactful for re2's core audience, who adopt it specifically to process untrusted patterns/inputs safely. ## Suggested fix Check the `MaybeLocal` before `ToLocalChecked` on both return paths (and the intermediate group-string builds), and throw a catchable `RangeError` to match the built-in engine: ```cpp auto maybe = Nan::New(result); if (maybe.IsEmpty()) { Nan::ThrowRangeError("Invalid string length"); return; } info.GetReturnValue().Set(maybe.ToLocalChecked()); ``` (Apply equivalently to the `Nan::CopyBuffer(...)` buffer path at L553 and to the per-group `Nan::New(data, size).ToLocalChecked()` sites used by the replacer-function path.) ## Resolution Resolved in `re2` `1.25.1`. `WrappedRE2::Replace` now checks the returned `MaybeLocal` on every result path and throws a catchable `RangeError: Invalid string length` (matching the built-in engine) instead of aborting the process with an uncatchable `SIGABRT`. No API changes --- upgrade to `re2` >= `1.25.1` via a plain `npm upgrade` to receive the fix.

Source published

6 Aug 2026 21:19:36 UTC

Source modified

6 Aug 2026 21:40:58 UTC

Observed here

24 Oct 2026 13:17:17 UTC

Source terms

GitHub Advisory Database · CC-BY-4.0

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This view projects the publisher's source fields for reading; the original JSON retains additional fields and CVE enrichment containers. Attribution: osv · GitHub Advisory Database · CC-BY-4.0. Source text is retained; field grouping and change labels are provided by ChangeIntel.

CVSS_V3 · CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

Publisher rating · MODERATE