CVE catalog
CVE-2026-16554
cJSON library is vulnerable to an integer overflow in the print_string_ptr() function in cJSON.c on 32-bit platforms. The escape_characters counter, a 32-bit size_t, can wrap around when processing st
- Severity
- Medium · CVSS 6.8
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:L - Published
- Source
- [NVD] · [CVE record]
- EPSS
- 0.37% · Oct 25, 2026
cJSON library is vulnerable to an integer overflow in the print_string_ptr() function in cJSON.c on 32-bit platforms. The escape_characters counter, a 32-bit size_t, can wrap around when processing strings containing approximately 858,993,460 or more control characters, causing the output buffer to be allocated based on an underestimated length. When cJSON_PrintBuffered() is used with a pre-allocated buffer, the subsequent write loop overflows the heap allocation. An attacker supplying a crafted JSON string to an application using cJSON on a 32-bit platform can cause a heap buffer overflow, potentially leading to remote code execution, information disclosure, or denial of service. Because project creator contact attempts were unsuccessful, the vulnerability has only been confirmed in version 1.7.19 but may also affect other versions.
Vulnerable and fixed packages
Distribution-reported package versions and fixes. These do not depend on matching against the OpenFactory package catalog.
| Distribution | Package | Release | Version | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Debian | cjson | sid | 1.7.19-2 | vulnerable |
| Debian | cjson | forky | 1.7.19-2 | vulnerable |
| Debian | cjson | trixie | 1.7.18-3.1+deb13u1 | vulnerable |
| Debian | cjson | trixie-security | 1.7.18-3.1+deb13u1 | vulnerable |
| Debian | cjson | bookworm | 1.7.15-1+deb12u4 | vulnerable |
| Debian | cjson | bookworm-security | 1.7.15-1+deb12u4 | vulnerable |
| Cpe | cjson | Not reported | Not reported | unknown |
Fixed-version evidence
| Distribution | Package | Type | Release | Fixed version | Urgency | Origin | Bugs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Debian | cjson | source | sid | (unfixed) | not yet assigned | Not reported | [1143047] |
| Debian | cjson | source | forky | (unfixed) | not yet assigned | Not reported | [1143047] |
| Debian | cjson | source | trixie | (unfixed) | not yet assigned | Not reported | [1143047] |
| Debian | cjson | source | bookworm | (unfixed) | not yet assigned | Not reported | [1143047] |
OpenFactory catalog packages
[Debian 12 (Bookworm)]
- [libcjson1]Affected
Source package: [cjson]
Details (4)
1.7.15-1+deb12u4· amd64 · bookwormAffected
nvd · cjson · debian · bookworm; nvd · cjson · debian · 12
1.7.15-1+deb12u4· arm64 · bookwormAffected
nvd · cjson · debian · bookworm; nvd · cjson · debian · 12
1.7.15-1+deb12u4· amd64 · bookworm-securityAffected
nvd · cjson · debian · bookworm; nvd · cjson · debian · 12
1.7.15-1+deb12u4· arm64 · bookworm-securityAffected
nvd · cjson · debian · bookworm; nvd · cjson · debian · 12
- [libcjson-dev]Affected
Source package: [cjson]
Details (4)
1.7.15-1+deb12u4· amd64 · bookwormAffected
nvd · cjson · debian · bookworm; nvd · cjson · debian · 12
1.7.15-1+deb12u4· arm64 · bookwormAffected
nvd · cjson · debian · bookworm; nvd · cjson · debian · 12
1.7.15-1+deb12u4· amd64 · bookworm-securityAffected
nvd · cjson · debian · bookworm; nvd · cjson · debian · 12
1.7.15-1+deb12u4· arm64 · bookworm-securityAffected
nvd · cjson · debian · bookworm; nvd · cjson · debian · 12
[Debian 13 (Trixie)]
- [libcjson1]Affected
Source package: [cjson]
Details (4)
1.7.18-3.1+deb13u1· amd64 · trixieAffected
nvd · cjson · debian · 13
1.7.18-3.1+deb13u1· arm64 · trixieAffected
nvd · cjson · debian · 13
1.7.18-3.1+deb13u1· amd64 · trixie-securityAffected
nvd · cjson · debian · 13
1.7.18-3.1+deb13u1· arm64 · trixie-securityAffected
nvd · cjson · debian · 13
- [libcjson-dev]Affected
Source package: [cjson]
Details (4)
1.7.18-3.1+deb13u1· amd64 · trixieAffected
nvd · cjson · debian · 13
1.7.18-3.1+deb13u1· arm64 · trixieAffected
nvd · cjson · debian · 13
1.7.18-3.1+deb13u1· amd64 · trixie-securityAffected
nvd · cjson · debian · 13
1.7.18-3.1+deb13u1· arm64 · trixie-securityAffected
nvd · cjson · debian · 13
Observed:
References
- [http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2026/07/30/26]
- [http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2026/07/31/4]
- [https://cert.pl/en/posts/2026/07/CVE-2026-16554]
- [https://github.com/DaveGamble/cJSON]
- [https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-16554]
- [https://osv.dev/vulnerability/DEBIAN-CVE-2026-16554]
- [https://security-tracker.debian.org/tracker/CVE-2026-16554]
- [https://security.access.redhat.com/data/csaf/v2/vex/2026/cve-2026-16554.json]
[Debian Security Tracker] · [FIRST EPSS] · [National Vulnerability Database (NVD)] · [OSV Package Vulnerability Database] · [Red Hat security advisories and VEX]