KaTeX is a fast, easy-to-use JavaScript library for TeX math rendering on the web. From 0.11.0 until 0.18.2, KaTeX uses ordinary JavaScript property access for the renderer options object, the trust setting, default and processor setting metadata, and namespace lookup and group restoration, allowing inherited properties to be treated as explicitly supplied values. When Object.prototype is already polluted or an attacker controls the options object's prototype, attacker-controlled mathematical expressions can use an inherited trust value to enable trusted rendering and produce links capable of user-interaction cross-site scripting or loading attacker-selected external resources in a consuming application that inserts unsanitized KaTeX output into a page. KaTeX does not itself create the prototype pollution, and rendering an expression alone does not execute script. This issue is fixed in version 0.18.2.

Affected: npm: katex

### Impact

KaTeX can act as a read-side prototype pollution gadget in applications where `Object.prototype` has already been polluted, or where an attacker can influence the prototype of the renderer options object. (KaTeX does not enable said prototype pollution. This advisory applies when combining KaTeX with other vulnerable software that allows for prototype pollution.)

Affected versions may treat inherited properties from `Object.prototype` as renderer options, internal setting metadata, or namespace entries. In particular, an inherited `trust` value will be treated as though the application explicitly enabled trusted rendering, rather than using the documented default of `false`.

With attacker-controlled mathematical expressions, this can produce links capable of user-interaction cross-site scripting or load attacker-selected external resources. Exploitation requires the consuming application to insert KaTeX output into a web page without a separate sanitizer. (KaTeX does not execute scripts merely by rendering an expression.)

Other inherited settings can alter rendering behavior or resource limits. Inherited setting metadata can affect how defaults and supplied options are processed, while inherited namespace properties can be mistaken for defined macros or other internal values.

### Patches

Upgrade to KaTeX v0.18.2 to remove this vulnerability.

### Workarounds

- Address any prototype-pollution vulnerability in the application or its dependencies. - `delete Ob…

Affected: Ubuntu:18.04:LTS: node-katex, Ubuntu:20.04:LTS: node-katex, Ubuntu:Pro:22.04:LTS: node-katex, Ubuntu:Pro:24.04:LTS: node-katex, Ubuntu:26.04:LTS: node-katex

KaTeX is a fast, easy-to-use JavaScript library for TeX math rendering on the web. From 0.11.0 until 0.18.2, KaTeX uses ordinary JavaScript property access for the renderer options object, the trust setting, default and processor setting metadata, and namespace lookup and group restoration, allowing inherited properties to be treated as explicitly supplied values. When Object.prototype is already polluted or an attacker controls the options object's prototype, attacker-controlled mathematical expressions can use an inherited trust value to enable trusted rendering and produce links capable of user-interaction cross-site scripting or loading attacker-selected external resources in a consuming application that inserts unsanitized KaTeX output into a page. KaTeX does not itself create the prototype pollution, and rendering an expression alone does not execute script. This issue is fixed in version 0.18.2.