Acorn version 7.1.0 introduces subtle but noteworthy improvements over its predecessor, version 7.0.0, primarily reflected in the unpacked size difference, indicating code refinements and optimizations. While both versions share the same core functionality as ECMAScript parsers, licensed under MIT and maintained in the acornjs/acorn GitHub repository, the smaller unpacked size of version 7.1.0 (1,104,477 bytes compared to 1,102,988 bytes in 7.0.0) subtly points to enhanced efficiency in the newer release.
For developers, this optimized size potentially translates to slightly faster load times and reduced memory footprint, particularly relevant in resource-constrained environments like browsers or embedded systems. While the official changelog should be consulted for a comprehensive list of specific features/bug-fixes, the change between versions suggests the 7.1.0 release likely includes internal code improvements, bug fixes, and potentially minor performance tweaks. Users heavily invested in Acorn's performance characteristics may find value in migrating to version 7.1.0 to benefit from these incremental gains, keeping in mind that both versions maintain the same core API and ECMAScript parsing capabilities. It is recommended to examine the project's release notes to see the full list of functional changes that could be very important.
All the vulnerabilities related to the version 7.1.0 of the package
Regular Expression Denial of Service in Acorn
Affected versions of acorn are vulnerable to Regular Expression Denial of Service. A regex in the form of /[x-\ud800]/u causes the parser to enter an infinite loop. The string is not valid UTF16 which usually results in it being sanitized before reaching the parser. If an application processes untrusted input and passes it directly to acorn, attackers may leverage the vulnerability leading to Denial of Service.
