Description
Backstage is an open framework for building developer portals, and @backstage/plugin-techdocs-node provides common node.js functionalities for TechDocs. In versions of @backstage/plugin-techdocs-node prior to 1.13.11 and 1.14.1, when TechDocs is configured with `runIn: local`, a malicious actor who can submit or modify a repository's `mkdocs.yml` file can execute arbitrary Python code on the TechDocs build server via MkDocs hooks configuration. @backstage/plugin-techdocs-node versions 1.13.11 and 1.14.1 contain a fix. The fix introduces an allowlist of supported MkDocs configuration keys. Unsupported configuration keys (including `hooks`) are now removed from `mkdocs.yml` before running the generator, with a warning logged to indicate which keys were removed. Users of `@techdocs/cli` should also upgrade to the latest version, which includes the fixed `@backstage/plugin-techdocs-node` dependency. Some workarounds are available. Configure TechDocs with `runIn: docker` instead of `runIn: local` to provide container isolation, though it does not fully mitigate the risk. Limit who can modify `mkdocs.yml` files in repositories that TechDocs processes; only allow trusted contributors. Implement PR review requirements for changes to `mkdocs.yml` files to detect malicious `hooks` configurations before they are merged. Use MkDocs < 1.4.0 (e.g., 1.3.1) which does not support hooks. Note: This may limit access to newer MkDocs features. Building documentation in CI/CD pipelines using `@techdocs/cli` does not mitigate this vulnerability, as the CLI uses the same vulnerable `@backstage/plugin-techdocs-node` package.
Published: 2026-01-30
Score: 7.7 High
EPSS: < 1% Very Low
KEV: No
Impact: Arbitrary Code Execution on Documentation Build Server
Action: Patch Immediately
AI Analysis

Analysis and contextual insights are available on OpenCVE Cloud.

Remediation

No vendor fix or workaround currently provided.

Additional remediation guidance may be available on OpenCVE Cloud.

Tracking

Sign in to view the affected projects.

Advisories
Source ID Title
Github GHSA Github GHSA GHSA-6jr7-99pf-8vgf @backstage/plugin-techdocs-node vulnerable to arbitrary code execution via MkDocs hooks
History

Thu, 19 Feb 2026 15:30:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Linuxfoundation
Linuxfoundation backstage
CPEs cpe:2.3:a:linuxfoundation:backstage:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
Vendors & Products Linuxfoundation
Linuxfoundation backstage

Tue, 03 Feb 2026 15:00:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Backstage
Backstage backstage
Vendors & Products Backstage
Backstage backstage

Mon, 02 Feb 2026 17:15:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics ssvc

{'options': {'Automatable': 'no', 'Exploitation': 'none', 'Technical Impact': 'partial'}, 'version': '2.0.3'}


Sat, 31 Jan 2026 00:15:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
References
Metrics threat_severity

None

threat_severity

Important


Fri, 30 Jan 2026 21:45:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description Backstage is an open framework for building developer portals, and @backstage/plugin-techdocs-node provides common node.js functionalities for TechDocs. In versions of @backstage/plugin-techdocs-node prior to 1.13.11 and 1.14.1, when TechDocs is configured with `runIn: local`, a malicious actor who can submit or modify a repository's `mkdocs.yml` file can execute arbitrary Python code on the TechDocs build server via MkDocs hooks configuration. @backstage/plugin-techdocs-node versions 1.13.11 and 1.14.1 contain a fix. The fix introduces an allowlist of supported MkDocs configuration keys. Unsupported configuration keys (including `hooks`) are now removed from `mkdocs.yml` before running the generator, with a warning logged to indicate which keys were removed. Users of `@techdocs/cli` should also upgrade to the latest version, which includes the fixed `@backstage/plugin-techdocs-node` dependency. Some workarounds are available. Configure TechDocs with `runIn: docker` instead of `runIn: local` to provide container isolation, though it does not fully mitigate the risk. Limit who can modify `mkdocs.yml` files in repositories that TechDocs processes; only allow trusted contributors. Implement PR review requirements for changes to `mkdocs.yml` files to detect malicious `hooks` configurations before they are merged. Use MkDocs < 1.4.0 (e.g., 1.3.1) which does not support hooks. Note: This may limit access to newer MkDocs features. Building documentation in CI/CD pipelines using `@techdocs/cli` does not mitigate this vulnerability, as the CLI uses the same vulnerable `@backstage/plugin-techdocs-node` package.
Title @backstage/plugin-techdocs-node vulnerable to arbitrary code execution via MkDocs hooks
Weaknesses CWE-94
References
Metrics cvssV3_1

{'score': 7.7, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:L/A:L'}


Subscriptions

Backstage Backstage
Linuxfoundation Backstage
cve-icon MITRE

Status: PUBLISHED

Assigner: GitHub_M

Published:

Updated: 2026-02-02T16:29:34.938Z

Reserved: 2026-01-29T15:39:11.822Z

Link: CVE-2026-25153

cve-icon Vulnrichment

Updated: 2026-02-02T16:25:15.688Z

cve-icon NVD

Status : Analyzed

Published: 2026-01-30T22:15:56.343

Modified: 2026-02-19T15:26:37.430

Link: CVE-2026-25153

cve-icon Redhat

Severity : Important

Publid Date: 2026-01-30T21:31:58Z

Links: CVE-2026-25153 - Bugzilla

cve-icon OpenCVE Enrichment

Updated: 2026-04-18T01:15:05Z

Weaknesses