ring: Inefficient Regular Expression Complexity
CVE-2026-62864 is a high-severity inefficient regular expression complexity vulnerability in ring from Ring-clojure, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.5 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an unauthenticated attacker, without any action from a user. Affected ring versions: < 1.15.5. The record does not name a fixed version, so check the vendor advisory. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.34% chance of exploitation within 30 days, which is low compared with other CVEs.
High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.
What to do
- Check which version of ring you run against the affected versions below, and install the vendor's latest release.
- Read the advisory on github.com for workarounds and exact fixed builds.
- Until you can update, restrict network access to the affected service so it is not reachable from untrusted networks.
Affected products and versions
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ring-clojure | ring | < 1.15.5 | Not stated |
Version data comes from the organisation that assigned the CVE. Confirm against the vendor advisory before deciding you are unaffected.
How the severity score breaks down
- Attack vector
- NetworkCan be exploited remotely over a network, including the internet.
- Attack complexity
- LowNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
- Privileges required
- NoneNo account or login is needed.
- User interaction
- NoneNo action by a victim is required.
- Scope
- UnchangedImpact stays within the vulnerable component.
- Confidentiality
- NoneNo data is disclosed.
- Integrity
- NoneNothing can be modified.
- Availability
- HighThe component can be taken down completely.
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H. Scored by CNA (github.com).
Official description
Ring is a Clojure web applications library inspired by Python's WSGI and Ruby's Rack. Prior to 1.15.5, `wrap-nested-params` in the `ring.middleware.nested-params` namespace uses a backtracking regular expression to match parameter names from URL query strings and HTTP request bodies. An attacker can craft a parameter name that drives quadratic O(n^2) matching work, causing regular-expression denial of service in applications using the middleware. `Ring-Defaults` users are also exposed because nested-params is enabled by default. Applications omitting the middleware do not expose this parsing path. This issue is fixed in version 1.15.5.
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Inefficient Regular Expression Complexity
The product uses a regular expression with a worst-case computational complexity that is inefficient and possibly exponential.
How developers prevent this class of flaw
- Use regular expressions that do not support backtracking, e.g. by removing nested quantifiers.
- Set backtracking limits in the configuration of the regular expression implementation, such as PHP's pcre.backtrack_limit. Also consider limits on execution time for the process.
- Do not use regular expressions with untrusted input. If regular expressions must be used, avoid using backtracking in the expression.
More Inefficient Regular Expression Complexity vulnerabilities (CWE-1333)
Timeline
- CVE record published.
- CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: yes, technical impact: partial).
- Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).
References
Patches and release notes
Other references
Recent Inefficient Regular Expression Complexity vulnerabilities
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 8.7 High severity
- 8.7 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
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