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Vulnerability · Published Sep 14, 2026 · Assigned by GitHub_M

CVE-2026-53752docx4j: Stack Overflow via Cyclic `w:basedOn` Style Chain leads to Denial of Service

High 7.5

In plain English

A high-severity resource allocation without limits in docx4j-core from org.docx4j. There are no confirmed reports of exploitation so far. The chance it is exploited in the next 30 days is estimated at 0.6% (higher than 50% of all known vulnerabilities). Fixed versions are available - upgrade the affected package.

Severity (CVSS 3.1)7.5High
Exploit odds (30 days)0.6%top 49.6% of all CVEs
Exploited in the wildNo reportsCISA SSVC: none
Attack toolingNoneno public tooling known

Official description

docx4j is an open source Java library for creating, editing, and saving OpenXML packages, including DOCX, PPTX, and XLSX files. Prior to 11.5.14, PropertyResolver and adjacent helpers recursively follow the WordprocessingML w:basedOn style inheritance chain without cycle detection. A well-formed DOCX containing mutually based styles causes unbounded recursion in PropertyResolver.fillPPrStack and related effective-style resolution paths, resulting in StackOverflowError. Server-side conversion and table-of-contents processing of an untrusted document can terminate a worker thread, degrade a thread pool, or deny service, although isolation in disposable workers or safe containment of StackOverflowError can reduce the practical effect. The fix adds cyclic-style tracking and CyclicStylesException handling. This issue is fixed in version 11.5.14.

Affected packages & fixed versions

EcosystemPackageFixed inAdvisory
Mavenorg.docx4j:docx4j-core11.5.14GHSA-gc95-3vw8-vg43

Affected products (as reported)

VendorProductVersions
plutext docx4j < 11.5.14
org.docx4j docx4j-core < 11.5.14

Weakness: CWE-674, CWE-770 · Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

References