{"id":"CVE-2022-25863","aliases":["GHSA-mj46-r4gr-5x83","SNYK-JS-GATSBYPLUGINMDX-2405699"],"url":"https://o3.security/vulnerability/CVE-2022-25863","summary":"Deserialization of Untrusted Data","details":"### Impact\nThe gatsby-plugin-mdx plugin prior to versions 3.15.2 and 2.14.1 passes input through to the `gray-matter` npm package, which is vulnerable to JavaScript injection in its default configuration, unless input is sanitized.  The vulnerability is present when passing input in both webpack (MDX files in `src/pages` or MDX file imported as component in frontend / React code) and data mode (querying MDX nodes via GraphQL).  Injected JavaScript executes in the context of the build server.\n\nTo exploit this vulnerability untrusted/unsanitized input would need to be sourced or added into an MDX file.  The following MDX payload demonstrates a vulnerable configuration:\n```\n---js\n((require(\"child_process\")).execSync(\"id >> /tmp/rce\"))\n--- \n```\n\n### Patches\nA patch has been introduced in `gatsby-plugin-mdx@3.15.2` and `gatsby-plugin-mdx@2.14.1` which mitigates the issue by disabling the `gray-matter` JavaScript Frontmatter engine.  The patch introduces a new option, `JSFrontmatterEngine` which is set to `false` by default.  When setting `JSFrontmatterEngine` to `true`, input passed to `gatsby-plugin-mdx` must be sanitized before processing to avoid a security risk.  Warnings are displayed when enabling `JSFrontmatterEngine` to `true` or if it appears that the MDX input is attempting to use the Frontmatter engine.\n\n### Workarounds\nIf an older version of `gatsby-plugin-mdx` must be used, input passed into the plugin should be sanitized ahead of processing.\n\n**We encourage projects to upgrade to the latest major release branch for all Gatsby plugins to ensure the latest security updates and bug fixes are received in a timely manner.**\n\n### Credits\nWe would like to thank Snyk [snyk.io] for initially bringing the issue to our attention, as well as Feng Xiao and Zhongfu Su, who reported the issue to Snyk.\n\n### For more information\nEmail us at [security@gatsbyjs.com](mailto:security@gatsbyjs.com).\n","published":"2022-06-10T20:00:19.275Z","modified":"2026-08-12T03:51:08.902224795Z","cvss":{"score":8.1,"severity":"HIGH","vector":"CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N/E:P"},"epss":null,"cisaKev":null,"exploitsKnown":3,"affectedPackages":[{"ecosystem":"npm","name":"gatsby-plugin-mdx","fixedVersion":"2.14.1"},{"ecosystem":"npm","name":"gatsby-plugin-mdx","fixedVersion":"3.15.2"}],"fix":{"url":"https://github.com/gatsbyjs/gatsby/pull/35830","label":"gatsbyjs/gatsby#35830"},"references":[{"type":"WEB","url":"https://drive.google.com/file/d/1EoCzbwTWOM8-fjvwMbH3bqcZ2iKksxTW/view?usp=sharing"},{"type":"WEB","url":"https://github.com/gatsbyjs/gatsby/pull/35830/commits/f214eb0694c61e348b2751cecd1aace2046bc46e"},{"type":"ADVISORY","url":"https://github.com/CVEProject/cvelistV5/tree/main/cves/2022/25xxx/CVE-2022-25863.json"},{"type":"ADVISORY","url":"https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2022-25863"},{"type":"ADVISORY","url":"https://snyk.io/vuln/SNYK-JS-GATSBYPLUGINMDX-2405699"},{"type":"FIX","url":"https://github.com/gatsbyjs/gatsby/pull/35830"},{"type":"WEB","url":"https://github.com/gatsbyjs/gatsby/security/advisories/GHSA-mj46-r4gr-5x83"},{"type":"PACKAGE","url":"https://github.com/gatsbyjs/gatsby"}],"provenance":{"sources":["OSV.dev","FIRST.org (EPSS)"],"lastVerified":"2026-08-12T03:51:08.902224795Z"}}