CVE-2026-43894Public exploit

Process crash via signed-overflow stack write

Published May 11, 2026 · Updated May 11, 2026

Out-of-bounds write in jqlang jq 1.8.1 and earlier allows local users to crash jq by converting an extremely long numeric string. The decNumberFromString path performs signed-int arithmetic in D2U(), lets a wrapped negative allocation size select a 30-byte stack buffer, and then writes attacker-controlled digit units far below the stack frame. Exploitation requires locally running a crafted filter and about 3.5 GiB of RAM; the demonstrated consequence is a SIGSEGV crash.

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

What happened

Out-of-bounds write in jqlang jq 1.8.1 and earlier allows local users to crash jq by converting an extremely long numeric string. The decNumberFromString path performs signed-int arithmetic in D2U(), lets a wrapped negative allocation size select a 30-byte stack buffer, and then writes attacker-controlled digit units far below the stack frame. Exploitation requires locally running a crafted filter and about 3.5 GiB of RAM; the demonstrated consequence is a SIGSEGV crash.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-43894
Published
May 11, 2026
Updated
May 11, 2026
Vendor
jqlang
Product
jq
Classifications
CWE-190, T1499.004
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. May 11, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. May 11, 2026Record 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=<= 1.8.1

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

jqlang · jqversion=<= 1.8.1

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-190Integer Overflow or Wraparound
T1499.004Application or System Exploitation

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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