USN-8276-1: Highlight.js vulnerability

Publication date

19 May 2026

Overview

Highlight.js could be made to crash if it received specially crafted input.


Packages

Details

It was discovered that Highlight.js used plain JavaScript objects for
internal language name lookups, making them susceptible to prototype
pollution attacks. An attacker could use this to cause a denial of
service or unexpected application behaviour.

It was discovered that Highlight.js used plain JavaScript objects for
internal language name lookups, making them susceptible to prototype
pollution attacks. An attacker could use this to cause a denial of
service or unexpected application behaviour.

Update instructions

In general, a standard system update will make all the necessary changes.

Learn more about how to get the fixes.

The problem can be corrected by updating your system to the following package versions:

Ubuntu Release Package Version
20.04 LTS focal libjs-highlight.js –  9.12.0+dfsg1-5ubuntu0.1~esm1  
node-highlight.js –  9.12.0+dfsg1-5ubuntu0.1~esm1  
18.04 LTS bionic libjs-highlight.js –  9.12.0+dfsg1-4ubuntu0.1~esm1  
node-highlight.js –  9.12.0+dfsg1-4ubuntu0.1~esm1  
16.04 LTS xenial libjs-highlight.js –  8.2+ds-4ubuntu0.1~esm1  
node-highlight.js –  8.2+ds-4ubuntu0.1~esm1  

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