Process crash via incorrect predecessor null check
Published Dec 14, 2023 · Updated Nov 4, 2025
NULL pointer dereference in cJSON 1.7.16 allows remote attackers to crash a consuming process through cJSON_InsertItemInArray. The function tests newitem->prev instead of after_inserted->prev before linking a non-head item, then dereferences the null predecessor through newitem->prev->next. Reachability requires a consuming application to expose this insertion operation to attacker-controlled malformed array state; no data disclosure or modification is reported.
Summary
What happened
NULL pointer dereference in cJSON 1.7.16 allows remote attackers to crash a consuming process through cJSON_InsertItemInArray. The function tests newitem->prev instead of after_inserted->prev before linking a non-head item, then dereferences the null predecessor through newitem->prev->next. Reachability requires a consuming application to expose this insertion operation to attacker-controlled malformed array state; no data disclosure or modification is reported.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2023-50471
- Published
- Dec 14, 2023
- Updated
- Nov 4, 2025
- Vendor
- Unknown vendor
- Product
- Unknown product
- Classifications
- CWE-476, T1499
- Attack vector
- network
- Privileges
- unauthenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Dec 14, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Nov 4, 2025Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.
Exploitability
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Published CVSS scores
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Attacks
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Technologies
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