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CVE-2020-5238 · cross-distro fix matrix

CVE-2020-5238: The table extension in GitHub Flavored Markdown before version 0.29.0.gfm.1 takes O(n * n) time to parse certain inputs. An attacker could craft a markdown table which would take an unreasonably long time to process, causing a denial of service. This issue does not affect the upstream cmark project.

Affects 3 Linux releases across 12 (distro × package) combinations.

Fix per ecosystem

Each block below is a distro release where CVE-2020-5238 has a known fix. Run the listed command on that distro to remediate.

Debian bullseye

Source: Debian Security Tracker

  • haskell-cmark-gfm→ fixed in0.2.1+ds1-1urgency: not yet assigned
    sudo apt-get install --only-upgrade -y haskell-cmark-gfm
  • ruby-commonmarker→ fixed in0.21.0-1urgency: not yet assigned
    sudo apt-get install --only-upgrade -y ruby-commonmarker

Debian bookworm

Source: Debian Security Tracker

  • cmark-gfm→ fixed in0.29.0.gfm.2-1urgency: not yet assigned
    sudo apt-get install --only-upgrade -y cmark-gfm
  • haskell-cmark-gfm→ fixed in0.2.1+ds1-1urgency: not yet assigned
    sudo apt-get install --only-upgrade -y haskell-cmark-gfm
  • python-cmarkgfm→ fixed in0.7.0-1urgency: not yet assigned
    sudo apt-get install --only-upgrade -y python-cmarkgfm
  • r-cran-commonmark→ fixed in1.8.0-1urgency: not yet assigned
    sudo apt-get install --only-upgrade -y r-cran-commonmark
  • ruby-commonmarker→ fixed in0.21.0-1urgency: not yet assigned
    sudo apt-get install --only-upgrade -y ruby-commonmarker

Debian trixie

Source: Debian Security Tracker

  • cmark-gfm→ fixed in0.29.0.gfm.2-1urgency: not yet assigned
    sudo apt-get install --only-upgrade -y cmark-gfm
  • haskell-cmark-gfm→ fixed in0.2.1+ds1-1urgency: not yet assigned
    sudo apt-get install --only-upgrade -y haskell-cmark-gfm
  • python-cmarkgfm→ fixed in0.7.0-1urgency: not yet assigned
    sudo apt-get install --only-upgrade -y python-cmarkgfm
  • r-cran-commonmark→ fixed in1.8.0-1urgency: not yet assigned
    sudo apt-get install --only-upgrade -y r-cran-commonmark
  • ruby-commonmarker→ fixed in0.21.0-1urgency: not yet assigned
    sudo apt-get install --only-upgrade -y ruby-commonmarker
Are YOU affected by CVE-2020-5238?

5-second check on your actual server. Reads /etc/os-release, uname -r, and the distro's package manager; matches against this same cross-source index live.

curl https://mindsparkstack.com/scan.sh | bash
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