CVE-2026-39979

jq: Out-of-Bounds Read in jv_parse_sized() Error Formatting for Non-NUL-Terminated Counted Buffers

MEDIUM
6.5
CVSS Score
Published: April 13, 2026 at 10:18 PM UTC
Updated: October 26, 2026 at 10:10 PM UTC
14 products affected across 2 vendorsEnterprise LinuxEnterprise Linux EusOpenShift Container Platform

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Severity
MEDIUM6.5
Exploit prediction
EPSS 0.6%
SSVC
PoC

Description

jq is a command-line JSON processor. In commits before 2f09060afab23fe9390cce7cb860b10416e1bf5f, the jv_parse_sized() API in libjq accepts a counted buffer with an explicit length parameter, but its error-handling path formats the input buffer using %s in jv_string_fmt(), which reads until a NUL terminator is found rather than respecting the caller-supplied length. This means that when malformed JSON is passed in a non-NUL-terminated buffer, the error construction logic performs an out-of-bounds read past the end of the buffer. The vulnerability is reachable by any libjq consumer calling jv_parse_sized() with untrusted input, and depending on memory layout, can result in memory disclosure or process termination. The issue has been patched in commit 2f09060afab23fe9390cce7cb860b10416e1bf5f.

Affected

Our own answer: ranges merged, affected separated from platform-only, with confidence and review flags.

v < 1.8.2
Affected range stops below 2026-04-12, so it looks safe — our inference, not a vendor statement
3.2.0 ≤ v < 3.2.23.3.0 ≤ v < 3.3.5
Vendor states this is fixed in 1780681984 (unaffected)
Vendor states this is fixed in 1782352847 (unaffected)
Vendor states this is fixed in 1782352919 (unaffected)
Vendor states this is fixed in 1782352950 (unaffected)
Vendor states this is fixed in 1782353093 (unaffected)
Vendor states this is fixed in 2 (unaffected)
Vendor states this is fixed in 0:1.5-12.el8_4.5 (unaffected)
Vendor states this is fixed in 0:1.6-12.el8_10 (unaffected)
Vendor states this is fixed in 0:1.6-12.el9_0.3 (unaffected)
Vendor states this is fixed in 0:1.6-15.el9_2.3 (unaffected)
Vendor states this is fixed in 0:1.6-16.el9_4.2 (unaffected)
Vendor states this is fixed in 0:1.6-17.el9_6.4 (unaffected)
Vendor states this is fixed in 0:1.6-19.el9_7.0.2 (unaffected)
Vendor states this is fixed in 0:1.6-19.el9_8.2 (unaffected)
Vendor states this is fixed in 0:1.6-3.el8_6.2 (unaffected)
Vendor states this is fixed in 0:1.6-6.el8_8.4 (unaffected)
Vendor states this is fixed in 0:1.7.1-11.el10_1.0.2 (unaffected)
Vendor states this is fixed in 0:1.7.1-11.el10_2.2 (unaffected)
Vendor states this is fixed in 0:1.7.1-8.el10_0.3 (unaffected)

Remediation

No guide yet

No remediation guidance has been written for this CVE yet. What the record does show:

References (32)

x_refsource_CONFIRMExploitVendor Advisory
Source: cverecord
https://github.com/jqlang/jq/security/advisories/GHSA-2hhh-px8h-355p
Third Party Advisory
Source: 0b0ca135-0b70-47e7-9f44-1890c2a1c46c
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:16252
Third Party Advisory
Source: 0b0ca135-0b70-47e7-9f44-1890c2a1c46c
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:16692
Third Party Advisory
Source: 0b0ca135-0b70-47e7-9f44-1890c2a1c46c
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:16693
Third Party Advisory
Source: 0b0ca135-0b70-47e7-9f44-1890c2a1c46c
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:18040
Third Party Advisory
Source: 0b0ca135-0b70-47e7-9f44-1890c2a1c46c
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:18042
Third Party Advisory
Source: 0b0ca135-0b70-47e7-9f44-1890c2a1c46c
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:18043

SSVC — Action Prioritization

SSVCPoCAutomatablePartial impact

SSVC signals action urgency (what to patch first), separate from CVSS which measures severity.

CVSS

Attack Vector
NETWORK
Complexity
LOW
Privileges
NONE
User Interaction
NONE
Scope
UNCHANGED
Confidentiality
LOW
Integrity
NONE
Availability
LOW
Vector?

Quick Info

StatusANALYZED
CWE
CWE-125

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