CVE-2026-43896Public exploit

Process crash via unbounded recursive object merge

Published May 11, 2026 · Updated May 11, 2026

Uncontrolled recursion in jq 1.8.1 and earlier allows local users to crash the process through recursive object merging. The jv_object_merge_recursive() function follows matching keys in two nested objects without a depth guard until the C stack is exhausted. The * operator reaches this path when both operands are objects; the result is process termination without code execution or broader system impact.

CVSS severity6.2
Medium
EPSS probability0.15%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Uncontrolled recursion in jq 1.8.1 and earlier allows local users to crash the process through recursive object merging. The jv_object_merge_recursive() function follows matching keys in two nested objects without a depth guard until the C stack is exhausted. The * operator reaches this path when both operands are objects; the result is process termination without code execution or broader system impact.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-43896
Published
May 11, 2026
Updated
May 11, 2026
Vendor
jqlang
Product
jq
Classifications
CWE-674, CAPEC-230, CAPEC-231, 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.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

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-674Uncontrolled Recursion
CAPEC-230Serialized Data with Nested Payloads
CAPEC-231Oversized Serialized Data Payloads
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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