Obsidian Desktop: Remote code execution via MathJax filter bypass
Summary
Obsidian Desktop before 1.14.0 contains a filter bypass in the bundled MathJax component that can be triggered by a crafted formula in a Markdown note. A TAB byte in a \href URL scheme causes a javascript: link to pass the safeProtocols check. Because the note renderer runs with Node integration enabled and context isolation disabled, a victim who clicks the rendered link in Live Preview can have arbitrary operating system commands executed with their user rights.
Affected
- Obsidian Desktop versions before 1.14.0 (per CNA record; some sources state up to 1.13.x)
- Bundled MathJax 3.2.2 Safe component
Fixed in
- Fixed in 1.14.4 or later according to the vendor changelog referenced by the research; the exact first fixed release is unconfirmed
- Current release per research notes: 1.14.5
Workaround
- Unknown. No vendor-published workaround for versions before 1.14 was found.
- Do not open notes or vaults from untrusted sources until updated.
Exploitation
- Not listed as known exploited (KEV).
- CISA SSVC: exploitation none, automatable no, technical impact total.
- EPSS 0.17%.
- Public technical write-up exists; no evidence of in-the-wild exploitation.
Our recommendation
- Update Obsidian Desktop to the latest release (at least 1.14.4) via the vendor download or your software deployment tool.
- Check Obsidian installations deployed through package managers or container images, as they may lag behind the vendor release.
- Prioritise systems that open shared, synced or externally received vaults and notes.
- Remind users not to click unexpected links in untrusted notes until patched.
Public exploits
PoC-in-GitHub, Metasploit and Exploit-DB list nothing for this CVE.
Research sources
- CodeAnt security research: From Markdown to a Shell codeant.ai
- Obsidian changelog 1.14.4 (2026-10-05) obsidian.md
- VulnCheck advisory: Obsidian Desktop RCE via MathJax Safe filter bypass www.vulncheck.com
- VulDB entry CVE-2026-104078 vuldb.com
- Strix CVE-2026-104078 www.strix.ai
- Threatint CVE-2026-104078 cve.threatint.com
- Obsidian releases on GitHub github.com
Researched and written up in English and German by an AI (Claude by Anthropic) based on NVD, CISA, EPSS and the sources listed. The vendor information is authoritative. Researched on 1 Nov 2026, 12:43.
Original description (NVD)
Obsidian Desktop before 1.14.0 contains a filter bypass vulnerability in the bundled MathJax 3.2.2 Safe component that allows attackers to execute arbitrary code by embedding a crafted \href value with a TAB byte in the URL scheme, causing filterURL to produce an empty protocol that bypasses the configured safeProtocols restrictions. Attackers can craft a note containing a malicious MathJax formula that renders as a javascript: URL anchor, which when clicked by the victim in Live Preview executes in the Node-integration-enabled vault renderer via require('child_process'), achieving arbitrary operating system command execution as the desktop user.
Sources
The tracker combines official, freely usable data sources – updated continuously:
- NVD (NIST) – CVEs, rating (CVSS), affected products
- CISA KEV – vulnerabilities confirmed by CISA as actively exploited
- CISA Vulnrichment – CISA assessment (SSVC) in the official CVE record
- FIRST EPSS – probability of exploitation
- Microsoft MSRC – Patch Tuesday: vulnerabilities, severity, updates
- PoC-in-GitHub – public proof-of-concept repositories
- Metasploit (Rapid7) – modules of the Metasploit Framework
- Exploit-DB (OffSec) – archive of public exploits (links only)
- Patch days: official vendor pages (linked per vendor) (Vendor patch days)
This product uses data from the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. EPSS data © FIRST.org.
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