CVE-2026-33947

jq: Unbounded Recursion in jv_setpath(), jv_getpath() and delpaths_sorted()

Published Apr 13, 2026 CVSS 3.1 · 6.2 Medium EPSS < 1% KEV · Not listed
Description
jq is a command-line JSON processor. In versions 1.8.1 and below, functions jv_setpath(), jv_getpath(), and delpaths_sorted() in jq's src/jv_aux.c use unbounded recursion whose depth is controlled by the length of a caller-supplied path array, with no depth limit enforced. An attacker can supply a JSON document containing a flat array of ~65,000 integers (~200 KB) that, when used as a path argument by a trusted jq filter, exhausts the C call stack and crashes the process with a segmentation fault (SIGSEGV). This bypass works because the existing MAX_PARSING_DEPTH (10,000) limit only protects the JSON parser, not runtime path operations where arrays can be programmatically constructed to arbitrary lengths. The impact is denial of service (unrecoverable crash) affecting any application or service that processes untrusted JSON input through jq's setpath, getpath, or delpaths builtins. This issue has been addressed in commit fb59f1491058d58bdc3e8dd28f1773d1ac690a1f.

Remediation

No solution or workaround provided in the CVE record

Tracking

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Advisories

Source ID Title
Debian DLA Debian DLA DLA-4599-1 jq security update
Debian DLA Debian DLA DLA-4662-1 jq security update
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8202-2 jq vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8202-1 jq vulnerabilities
History
Type Values Removed Values Added
CPEs cpe:2.3:a:jqlang:jq:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Jqlang
Jqlang jq
Vendors & Products Jqlang
Jqlang jq
Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics ssvc

{'options': {'Automatable': 'no', 'Exploitation': 'poc', 'Technical Impact': 'partial'}, 'version': '2.0.3'}

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description jq is a command-line JSON processor. In versions 1.8.1 and below, functions jv_setpath(), jv_getpath(), and delpaths_sorted() in jq's src/jv_aux.c use unbounded recursion whose depth is controlled by the length of a caller-supplied path array, with no depth limit enforced. An attacker can supply a JSON document containing a flat array of ~65,000 integers (~200 KB) that, when used as a path argument by a trusted jq filter, exhausts the C call stack and crashes the process with a segmentation fault (SIGSEGV). This bypass works because the existing MAX_PARSING_DEPTH (10,000) limit only protects the JSON parser, not runtime path operations where arrays can be programmatically constructed to arbitrary lengths. The impact is denial of service (unrecoverable crash) affecting any application or service that processes untrusted JSON input through jq's setpath, getpath, or delpaths builtins. This issue has been addressed in commit fb59f1491058d58bdc3e8dd28f1773d1ac690a1f.
Title jq: Unbounded Recursion in jv_setpath(), jv_getpath() and delpaths_sorted()
Weaknesses CWE-674
References
Metrics cvssV3_1

{'score': 6.2, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H'}

Weaknesses

Sources

Status
PUBLISHED
Assigner
GitHub_M
Published
Updated
Apr 16, 2026, 3:03 AM
Reserved
Mar 24, 2026, 7:50 PM
Status
Analyzed
Published
Apr 13, 2026, 10:16 PM
Modified
Oct 26, 2026, 9:10 PM
Severity
Moderate
Public date
Apr 13, 2026, 9:50 PM