CVE-2026-32316
Description
A flaw was found in jq, a command-line JSON processor. An attacker can exploit an integer overflow vulnerability by crafting queries that produce extremely large strings. This causes a 32-bit unsigned integer overflow in the buffer allocation size calculation, leading to a drastically undersized memory buffer. Subsequent memory copy operations then write the full string data into this undersized buffer, causing a heap-based buffer overflow. This can result in a Denial of Service (DoS) by crashing the process or potentially allow for further exploitation through heap corruption.
Statement
This Moderate impact vulnerability in jq, a command-line JSON processor, allows for a Denial of Service or potential arbitrary code execution. The flaw occurs when jq processes untrusted queries that generate excessively large strings, leading to an integer overflow and heap-based buffer overflow. Red Hat products that utilize jq for processing JSON data are affected if they handle untrusted jq queries.
Mitigation
To mitigate this issue, avoid processing untrusted or unvalidated JSON input with the `jq` utility. Ensure that any scripts or automated processes utilizing `jq` only operate on trusted data sources. Restricting the execution of `jq` to trusted users and environments can also reduce exposure.
Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS) Score Details
Info alert:Important note
CVSS scores for open source components depend on vendor-specific factors (e.g. version or build chain). Therefore, Red Hat's score and impact rating can be different from NVD and other vendors. Red Hat remains the authoritative CVE Naming Authority (CNA) source for its products and services (see Red Hat classifications).
CVSS v3 Score Breakdown
| Red Hat | NVD | cve.org | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base Score | 6.8 | 7.5 | 8.2 |
| Attack Vector | Network | Network | Network |
| Attack Complexity | Low | Low | Low |
| Privileges Required | Low | None | None |
| User Interaction | Required | None | None |
| Scope | Unchanged | Unchanged | Unchanged |
| Confidentiality | Low | None | None |
| Integrity Impact | Low | None | Low |
| Availability Impact | High | High | High |
Vector
Red Hat: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:H
NVD: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
cve.org: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:H
Understanding the Weakness (CWE)
Availability
Technical Impact: DoS: Crash, Exit, or Restart; DoS: Resource Consumption (Memory); DoS: Instability
This weakness can generally lead to undefined behavior and therefore crashes. When the calculated result is used for resource allocation, this weakness can cause too many (or too few) resources to be allocated, possibly enabling crashes if the product requests more resources than can be provided.
Integrity
Technical Impact: Modify Memory
If the value in question is important to data (as opposed to flow), simple data corruption has occurred. Also, if the overflow/wraparound results in other conditions such as buffer overflows, further memory corruption may occur.
Confidentiality,Availability,Access Control
Technical Impact: Execute Unauthorized Code or Commands; Bypass Protection Mechanism
This weakness can sometimes trigger buffer overflows, which can be used to execute arbitrary code. This is usually outside the scope of the product's implicit security policy.
Availability,Other
Technical Impact: Alter Execution Logic; DoS: Crash, Exit, or Restart; DoS: Resource Consumption (CPU)
If the overflow/wraparound occurs in a loop index variable, this could cause the loop to terminate at the wrong time - too early, too late, or not at all (i.e., infinite loops). With too many iterations, some loops could consume too many resources such as memory, file handles, etc., possibly leading to a crash or other DoS.
Access Control
Technical Impact: Bypass Protection Mechanism
If integer values are used in security-critical decisions, such as calculating quotas or allocation limits, integer overflows can be used to cause an incorrect security decision.
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