# GHSA-wxhq-pm8v-cw75: Regular Expression Denial of Service in clean-css

> Untrusted input triggers catastrophic backtracking in clean-css, causing application unresponsiveness and denial of service.

- **Severity:** Not scored
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 5 Jun 2019

## What is GHSA-wxhq-pm8v-cw75?

GHSA-wxhq-pm8v-cw75 is a denial of service vulnerability in clean-css, published on 5 Jun 2019. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

Version of `clean-css` prior to 4.1.11 are vulnerable to Regular Expression Denial of Service (ReDoS). Untrusted input may cause catastrophic backtracking while matching regular expressions. This can cause the application to be unresponsive leading to Denial of Service.

## Recommendation

Upgrade to version 4.1.11 or higher.

## Which versions are affected by GHSA-wxhq-pm8v-cw75?

2 open source packages ship an affected version, including clean-css.


| Package | Ecosystem | Affected | Fixed in |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `clean-css` | npm | All versions | 4.1.11 |
| `clean-css` | npm | All versions | 4.1.11 |

## How do I fix GHSA-wxhq-pm8v-cw75?

Upgrade clean-css to 4.1.11 or later.

## Is GHSA-wxhq-pm8v-cw75 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of GHSA-wxhq-pm8v-cw75 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for GHSA-wxhq-pm8v-cw75 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: GHSA-wxhq-pm8v-cw75 is a denial of service vulnerability in clean-css, published on 5 Jun 2019. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of GHSA-wxhq-pm8v-cw75 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected packages and fixed versions:
- clean-css (npm): affected all versions; fixed in 4.1.11
- clean-css (npm): affected all versions; fixed in 4.1.11

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/GHSA-wxhq-pm8v-cw75/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/GHSA-wxhq-pm8v-cw75/index.md)
```

## Sources

- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/GHSA-wxhq-pm8v-cw75

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/GHSA-wxhq-pm8v-cw75/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.