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Axios: ReDoS (O(N²)) in shouldBypassProxy host normalization, reachable via untrusted redirect Location

Type: advisorySource: OSV1 source record

## Summary Axios `shouldBypassProxy()` normalizes hostnames with `hostname.replace(/\.+$/, '')`. For a hostname shaped as many dots followed by a non-dot, the anchored regex can perform quadratic backtracking. Because axios re-evaluates proxy bypass rules for redirected requests, a malicious server can trigger this synchronous work through a crafted redirect `Location`. The issue affects Node.js applications that use environment proxy variables with `NO_PROXY` and allow redirects. ## Impact An attacker-controlled server can return a redirect whose hostname causes the axios process to spend significant CPU time in synchronous hostname normalization. During this time, the Node.js event loop is blocked and the application cannot handle other work on that thread. This is an availability-only issue. It does not disclose request data or modify requests. ## Affected Functionality Affected: - Node.js HTTP adapter. - Environment proxy handling through `HTTP_PROXY` or `HTTPS_PROXY`. - `NO_PROXY` or `no_proxy` set to a non-empty value. - Redirects followed by axios or `follow-redirects`. Not affected: - Browser adapters. - Requests with `proxy: false`. - Requests with no `NO_PROXY` value. - Requests with `maxRedirects: 0`, unless application code manually follows the malicious redirect and re-enters axios. ## Technical Details `lib/helpers/shouldBypassProxy.js` contains: ```js return unmapIPv4MappedIPv6(hostname.replace(/\.+$/, '')); ``` When the hostname is `"." * n + "a"`, the `$` anc

Announced Group revision 1
Original source ↗

GHSA-mghh-pgcx-3jjj

Primary source · Revision 1

Imported from structured advisory data. Source references identify upstream records or fields; verify affected versions and your deployed configuration.

Security context

Source reference: osv:GHSA-mghh-pgcx-3jjj

axios

Source reference: /affected/0/package/name

Affected versions
Not stated in this record
Fixed versions
1.20.0

Source reference: /affected/0/ranges

Prerequisites
Not stated in this record

Structured affected-version data

Original package identities and version rules from this source.

[
  {
    "ranges": [
      {
        "type": "SEMVER",
        "events": [
          {
            "introduced": "1.15.0"
          },
          {
            "fixed": "1.20.0"
          }
        ]
      }
    ],
    "package": {
      "name": "axios",
      "purl": "pkg:npm/axios",
      "ecosystem": "npm"
    },
    "database_specific": {
      "source": "https://github.com/github/advisory-database/blob/main/advisories/github-reviewed/2026/09/GHSA-mghh-pgcx-3jjj/GHSA-mghh-pgcx-3jjj.json"
    }
  }
]
Related CVEs
CVE-2026-101906

Source reference: /aliases

Publisher severity

high

Source reference: /database_specific/severity

Linked CVE context

These ratings describe the referenced vulnerabilities and products. They are not a severity rating for every application using this dependency.

Event
#37692 · Revision 1
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