CVE catalog

CVE-2026-67216

cJSON through 1.7.19 contains an inefficient algorithmic complexity flaw in cJSON_Compare(). When comparing objects, the function recurses into each shared subtree twice, once in each direction, with

[CVE catalog]

Severity: High · CVSS 8.2CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:P/PR:N/UI:N/VC:N/VI:N/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:X/CR:X/IR:X/AR:X/MAV:X/MAC:X/MAT:X/MPR:X/MUI:X/MVC:X/MVI:X/MVA:X/MSC:X/MSI:X/MSA:X/S:X/AU:X/R:X/V:X/RE:X/U:X
Published: Jul 29, 2026, 1:32:03 PM UTC
Source: [NVD] · [CVE record]
EPSS: 0.65% · Oct 25, 2026

cJSON through 1.7.19 contains an inefficient algorithmic complexity flaw in cJSON_Compare(). When comparing objects, the function recurses into each shared subtree twice, once in each direction, with no depth guard, making the running time exponential in nesting depth. A small, deeply nested document of a few hundred bytes (depth around 40) compared for equality consumes hours of CPU, and the cost roughly doubles with each additional level of nesting. An application that calls cJSON_Compare() on attacker-influenced JSON that is structurally equal to a reference document is exposed to a denial-of-service condition.

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	[1143048]
Debian	cjson	source	forky	`(unfixed)`	not yet assigned	Not reported	[1143048]
Debian	cjson	source	trixie	`(unfixed)`	not yet assigned	Not reported	[1143048]
Debian	cjson	source	bookworm	`(unfixed)`	not yet assigned	Not reported	[1143048]

[Debian bug #1143048]

OpenFactory catalog packages

[Debian 12 (Bookworm)]

[libcjson1]Affected
Source package: [cjson]
Details (4)
- 1.7.15-1+deb12u4 · amd64 · bookworm
  Affected
  nvd · cjson · debian · bookworm; nvd · cjson · debian · 12
- 1.7.15-1+deb12u4 · arm64 · bookworm
  Affected
  nvd · cjson · debian · bookworm; nvd · cjson · debian · 12
- 1.7.15-1+deb12u4 · amd64 · bookworm-security
  Affected
  nvd · cjson · debian · bookworm; nvd · cjson · debian · 12
- 1.7.15-1+deb12u4 · arm64 · bookworm-security
  Affected
  nvd · cjson · debian · bookworm; nvd · cjson · debian · 12
[libcjson-dev]Affected
Source package: [cjson]
Details (4)
- 1.7.15-1+deb12u4 · amd64 · bookworm
  Affected
  nvd · cjson · debian · bookworm; nvd · cjson · debian · 12
- 1.7.15-1+deb12u4 · arm64 · bookworm
  Affected
  nvd · cjson · debian · bookworm; nvd · cjson · debian · 12
- 1.7.15-1+deb12u4 · amd64 · bookworm-security
  Affected
  nvd · cjson · debian · bookworm; nvd · cjson · debian · 12
- 1.7.15-1+deb12u4 · arm64 · bookworm-security
  Affected
  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 · trixie
  Affected
  nvd · cjson · debian · 13
- 1.7.18-3.1+deb13u1 · arm64 · trixie
  Affected
  nvd · cjson · debian · 13
- 1.7.18-3.1+deb13u1 · amd64 · trixie-security
  Affected
  nvd · cjson · debian · 13
- 1.7.18-3.1+deb13u1 · arm64 · trixie-security
  Affected
  nvd · cjson · debian · 13
[libcjson-dev]Affected
Source package: [cjson]
Details (4)
- 1.7.18-3.1+deb13u1 · amd64 · trixie
  Affected
  nvd · cjson · debian · 13
- 1.7.18-3.1+deb13u1 · arm64 · trixie
  Affected
  nvd · cjson · debian · 13
- 1.7.18-3.1+deb13u1 · amd64 · trixie-security
  Affected
  nvd · cjson · debian · 13
- 1.7.18-3.1+deb13u1 · arm64 · trixie-security
  Affected
  nvd · cjson · debian · 13

Observed: Oct 27, 2026, 7:11:22 AM UTC

References

[Debian Security Tracker] · [FIRST EPSS] · [National Vulnerability Database (NVD)] · [OSV Package Vulnerability Database] · [Red Hat security advisories and VEX]