CVE-2020-26298: Redcarpet is a Ruby library for Markdown processing

Q: How do I fix CVE-2020-26298?

redcarpet: upgrade to 3.5.1; debian linux: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Q: Is CVE-2020-26298 being exploited?

CVE-2020-26298 is not on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list at the time of the last update. Check again, as this can change.

Q: What does CVE-2020-26298 affect?

CVE-2020-26298 affects redcarpet, debian linux. Severity is medium (CVSS 6.8). Redcarpet is a Ruby library for Markdown processing. In Redcarpet before version 3.5.1, there is an injection vulnerability which can enable a cross-site scripting attack. In affected versions no HTML escaping was being performed when proce

Q: How urgent is CVE-2020-26298?

Priority 48/100. On your watchlist

This month

MEDIUM 6.8WATCHLISTUPGRADEMITIGATE

CVE-2020-26298 is a medium-severity flaw (CVSS 6.8) affecting redcarpet, debian linux. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

Redcarpet is a Ruby library for Markdown processing. In Redcarpet before version 3.5.1, there is an injection vulnerability which can enable a cross-site scripting attack. In affected versions no HTML escaping was being performed when processing quotes. This applies even when the `:escape_html` option was being used. This is fixed in version 3.5.1 by the referenced commit.

Why this priority

On your watchlist

A fixed release or distro patch exists.

Risk facts

CVSS score	6.8 (Medium)
Attack vector	Network (remote)
Attack complexity	Low
Privileges needed	Low
User interaction	Required
EPSS exploit chance	1.6% (top 24%)
CISA exploited list	No
Weakness	CWE-74, CWE-79
Published	2021-01-11
Last modified	2026-06-17

Publisher (CNA): GitHub, Inc. · Vendor: debian · redcarpet project

Last updated 2026-06-17 · Sources: CVE Program, NVD, CISA KEV, EPSS and vendor advisories · How we score

Am I affected?

Timeline

2021-01-11 19:15 UTCPublished CVE record published
2026-06-17 03:08 UTCUpdated Record last modified

redcarpet project redcarpet UPGRADE

Affected: < 3.5.1

Fixed in: 3.5.1

Safe to downgrade to: no unaffected older release

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy redcarpet || rpm -q redcarpet || redcarpet --version

2. UPGRADE to 3.5.1 (Debian / Ubuntu)

sudo apt update && sudo apt install --only-upgrade redcarpet

2. UPGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

sudo dnf upgrade redcarpet

Note

Distros often backport fixes without changing the version number. Confirm with the distro advisory or changelog.

debian debian linux MITIGATE

Affected: 9.0 · 10.0

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 9.0

Check your OS release

cat /etc/os-release; uname -r

Debian / Ubuntu

sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade

RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora

sudo dnf upgrade --refresh

Windows

Install the latest cumulative update from Windows Update

If no patch exists yet

OS downgrades are not safe. Apply the vendor mitigation from the advisory and restrict exposure.

Verify at the official source NVD · CVE Program · Report a problem with this page
Scores and fixes here are computed automatically from those and other public sources. Confirm with the vendor advisory before changing production systems.

Quick answers

How do I fix CVE-2020-26298?

redcarpet: upgrade to 3.5.1; debian linux: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Is CVE-2020-26298 being exploited?

CVE-2020-26298 is not on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list at the time of the last update. Check again, as this can change.

What does CVE-2020-26298 affect?

CVE-2020-26298 affects redcarpet, debian linux. Severity is medium (CVSS 6.8). Redcarpet is a Ruby library for Markdown processing. In Redcarpet before version 3.5.1, there is an injection vulnerability which can enable a cross-site scripting attack. In affected versions no HTML escaping was being performed when proce

How urgent is CVE-2020-26298?

Priority 48/100. On your watchlist

Software pages

Debian vulnerabilities · Ruby vulnerabilities

References

← Back to latest CVEs