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Moodle TeX formula editor is vulnerable to DoS through lack of execution time limits

Moderate severity GitHub Reviewed Published Feb 21, 2026 to the GitHub Advisory Database • Updated Feb 27, 2026

Package

composer moodle/moodle (Composer)

Affected versions

>= 5.1.0-beta, < 5.1.2
>= 5.0.0-beta, < 5.0.5
< 4.5.9

Patched versions

5.1.2
5.0.5
4.5.9

Description

A Denial of Service vulnerability was identified in Moodle’s TeX formula editor. When rendering TeX content using mimetex, insufficient execution time limits could allow specially crafted formulas to consume excessive server resources. An authenticated user could abuse this behavior to degrade performance or cause service interruption.

References

Published by the National Vulnerability Database Feb 21, 2026
Published to the GitHub Advisory Database Feb 21, 2026
Reviewed Feb 25, 2026
Last updated Feb 27, 2026

Severity

Moderate

CVSS overall score

This score calculates overall vulnerability severity from 0 to 10 and is based on the Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS).
/ 10

CVSS v3 base metrics

Attack vector
Network
Attack complexity
Low
Privileges required
Low
User interaction
None
Scope
Unchanged
Confidentiality
None
Integrity
None
Availability
High

CVSS v3 base metrics

Attack vector: More severe the more the remote (logically and physically) an attacker can be in order to exploit the vulnerability.
Attack complexity: More severe for the least complex attacks.
Privileges required: More severe if no privileges are required.
User interaction: More severe when no user interaction is required.
Scope: More severe when a scope change occurs, e.g. one vulnerable component impacts resources in components beyond its security scope.
Confidentiality: More severe when loss of data confidentiality is highest, measuring the level of data access available to an unauthorized user.
Integrity: More severe when loss of data integrity is the highest, measuring the consequence of data modification possible by an unauthorized user.
Availability: More severe when the loss of impacted component availability is highest.
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

EPSS score

Exploit Prediction Scoring System (EPSS)

This score estimates the probability of this vulnerability being exploited within the next 30 days. Data provided by FIRST.
(23rd percentile)

Weaknesses

Uncontrolled Resource Consumption

The product does not properly control the allocation and maintenance of a limited resource. Learn more on MITRE.

Allocation of Resources Without Limits or Throttling

The product allocates a reusable resource or group of resources on behalf of an actor without imposing any intended restrictions on the size or number of resources that can be allocated. Learn more on MITRE.

CVE ID

CVE-2026-26047

GHSA ID

GHSA-cg8j-5cr2-568q

Source code

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