CVE-2026-87933Public exploitNetwork attack vector

Process crash via freed merge-patch subtree reuse

Published Sep 10, 2026 · Updated Sep 10, 2026

Use-after-free in Dave Gamble cJSON 1.7.0 through 1.7.19 allows remote attackers to crash consuming processes via crafted JSON. merge_patch deletes the target before duplicating a non-object patch that aliases a target subtree, so cJSON_Duplicate_rec reads freed patch memory. Reachability requires a consuming application to pass attacker-controlled JSON into cJSONUtils_MergePatch with that aliasing relationship; the demonstrated consequence is a process crash.

CVSS severity7.3
High
EPSS probability0.31%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Use-after-free in Dave Gamble cJSON 1.7.0 through 1.7.19 allows remote attackers to crash consuming processes via crafted JSON. merge_patch deletes the target before duplicating a non-object patch that aliases a target subtree, so cJSON_Duplicate_rec reads freed patch memory. Reachability requires a consuming application to pass attacker-controlled JSON into cJSONUtils_MergePatch with that aliasing relationship; the demonstrated consequence is a process crash.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-87933
Published
Sep 10, 2026
Updated
Sep 10, 2026
Vendor
cJSON Project
Product
cJSON
Classifications
CWE-119, CWE-416
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Sep 10, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Sep 10, 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=1.7.0
  2. Affected versionversion=1.7.1
  3. Affected versionversion=1.7.10
  4. Affected versionversion=1.7.11
  5. Affected versionversion=1.7.12
  6. Affected versionversion=1.7.13
  7. Affected versionversion=1.7.14
  8. Affected versionversion=1.7.15
  9. Affected versionversion=1.7.16
  10. Affected versionversion=1.7.17
  11. Affected versionversion=1.7.18
  12. Affected versionversion=1.7.19
  13. Affected versionversion=1.7.2
  14. Affected versionversion=1.7.3
  15. Affected versionversion=1.7.4
  16. Affected versionversion=1.7.5
  17. Affected versionversion=1.7.6
  18. Affected versionversion=1.7.7
  19. Affected versionversion=1.7.8
  20. Affected versionversion=1.7.9

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

cJSON Project · cJSONversion=1.7.0; version=1.7.1; version=1.7.10; version=1.7.11; version=1.7.12; version=1.7.13; version=1.7.14; version=1.7.15; version=1.7.16; version=1.7.17; version=1.7.18; version=1.7.19; version=1.7.2; version=1.7.3; version=1.7.4; version=1.7.5; version=1.7.6; version=1.7.7; version=1.7.8; version=1.7.9

Published CVSS scores

7.3VulDB CNACVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L
5.5VulDB CNACVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:L/VI:L/VA:L/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:P
7.5VulDB CNAAV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P

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)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-119Improper Restriction of Operations within the Bounds of a Memory Buffer
CWE-416Use After Free

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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