HexBrain

Node.js · Report #3456295

Uncatchable "Maximum call stack size exceeded" error on Node.js via async_hooks leads to process crashes bypassing error handlers

Validstatus
mediumseverity
35upvotes
12 Feb 2026disclosed

Summary

We have identified a bug in Node.js error handling where "Maximum call stack size exceeded" errors become uncatchable when async_hooks.createHook() is enabled. Instead of reaching process.on('uncaughtException'), the process terminates, making the crash unrecoverable. Applications that rely on AsyncLocalStorage (v22, v20) or async_hooks.createHook() (v24, v22, v20) become vulnerable to denial-of-service crashes triggered by deep recursion under specific conditions.

How it was found

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