KaTeX is a fast, easy-to-use JavaScript library for TeX math rendering on the web. KaTeX users who render untrusted mathematical expressions with `renderToString` could encounter malicious input using `\htmlData` that runs arbitrary JavaScript, or generate invalid HTML. Users are advised to upgrade to KaTeX v0.16.21 to remove this vulnerability. Users unable to upgrade should avoid use of or turn off the `trust` option, or set it to forbid `\htmlData` commands, forbid inputs containing the substring `"\\htmlData"` and sanitize HTML output from KaTeX.

The Linux/Unix host has one or more packages installed that are impacted by a vulnerability without a vendor supplied patch available.

  - KaTeX is a fast, easy-to-use JavaScript library for TeX math rendering on the web. KaTeX users who render     untrusted mathematical expressions with `renderToString` could encounter malicious input using `\htmlData`     that runs arbitrary JavaScript, or generate invalid HTML. Users are advised to upgrade to KaTeX v0.16.21     to remove this vulnerability. Users unable to upgrade should avoid use of or turn off the `trust` option,     or set it to forbid `\htmlData` commands, forbid inputs containing the substring `\\htmlData` and     sanitize HTML output from KaTeX. (CVE-2025-23207)

Note that Nessus relies on the presence of the package as reported by the vendor.

The remote Ubuntu 22.04 LTS / 24.04 LTS / 24.10 / 25.04 host has packages installed that are affected by multiple vulnerabilities as referenced in the USN-7572-1 advisory.

    Juho Forsn discovered that KaTeX did not correctly handle certain inputs, which could lead to an     infinite loop. If a user or application were tricked into opening a specially crafted file, an attacker     could possibly use this issue to cause a denial of service. This issue only affected Ubuntu 22.04 LTS.
    (CVE-2024-28243)

    Tobias S. Fink discovered that KaTeX did not correctly block certain URL protocols. If a user or system     were tricked into opening a specially crafted file, an attacker could possibly use this issue to execute     arbitrary code. This issue only affected Ubuntu 22.04 LTS. (CVE-2024-28246)

    It was discovered that KaTeX did not correctly handle certain inputs. If a user or system were tricked     into opening a specially crafted file, an attacker could possibly use this issue to execute arbitrary     code. This issue only affected Ubuntu 22.04 LTS. (CVE-2024-28245)

    Sean Ng discovered that KaTeX did not correctly handle certain inputs. If a user or system were tricked     into opening a specially crafted file, an attacker could possibly use this issue to execute arbitrary     code. (CVE-2025-23207)

Tenable has extracted the preceding description block directly from the Ubuntu security advisory.

Note that Nessus has not tested for these issues but has instead relied only on the application's self-reported version number.

There are packages installed that are affected by a vulnerability referenced in the following CVE:

  - KaTeX is a fast, easy-to-use JavaScript library for TeX math rendering on the web. KaTeX users who render
    untrusted mathematical expressions with `renderToString` could encounter malicious input using `\htmlData`
    that runs arbitrary JavaScript, or generate invalid HTML. Users are advised to upgrade to KaTeX v0.16.21
    to remove this vulnerability. Users unable to upgrade should avoid use of or turn off the `trust` option,
    or set it to forbid `\htmlData` commands, forbid inputs containing the substring `"\\htmlData"` and
    sanitize HTML output from KaTeX. (CVE-2025-23207)

ID	Name	Product	Family	Type	Severity
255830	Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2025-23207	Nessus	Misc.	Local	high
240201	Ubuntu 22.04 LTS / 24.04 LTS / 24.10 / 25.04 : KaTeX vulnerabilities (USN-7572-1)	Nessus	Ubuntu Local Security Checks	Local	medium
413887	SCA: security update for katex (GHSA-cg87-wmx4-v546)	Tenable Cloud Security	SCA Checks	Local	high
413887	SCA: security update for katex (GHSA-cg87-wmx4-v546)	Tenable Self-Hosted Container Security	SCA Checks	Local	high

Detections

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CVE-2025-23207

high

Tenable Plugins

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medium

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