CVE-2023-50246Public exploit

Process crash via undersized numeric-string buffer

Published Dec 13, 2023 · Updated Feb 13, 2025

Heap-based buffer overflow in jq 1.7 allows local users to crash the process by supplying a crafted numeric JSON value. jvp_literal_number_literal allocates digits plus 14 bytes, but decNumberToString writes the characters and a terminating NUL, producing a one-byte heap overwrite for extreme exponents. The user must cause jq to parse and stringify the crafted number; the demonstrated consequence is process abort and service interruption.

CVSS severity6.2
Medium
EPSS probability0.51%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Heap-based buffer overflow in jq 1.7 allows local users to crash the process by supplying a crafted numeric JSON value. jvp_literal_number_literal allocates digits plus 14 bytes, but decNumberToString writes the characters and a terminating NUL, producing a one-byte heap overwrite for extreme exponents. The user must cause jq to parse and stringify the crafted number; the demonstrated consequence is process abort and service interruption.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-50246
Published
Dec 13, 2023
Updated
Feb 13, 2025
Vendor
jqlang
Product
jq
Classifications
CWE-122, CWE-120, T1499
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Dec 13, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Feb 13, 2025Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion== 1.7

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

jqlang · jqversion== 1.7

Published CVSS scores

6.2GitHub, Inc.CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
5.5NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

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No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-122Heap-based Buffer Overflow
CWE-120Buffer Copy without Checking Size of Input ('Classic Buffer Overflow')
T1499Endpoint Denial of Service

Public exploit references

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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