CVE-2026-43895: jq: Embedded NUL in jq import paths causes local redaction-policy bypass and preserves sensitive fields in published artifacts
Vulnerability summary
CVE-2026-43895 is a medium (CVSS 4.4) Improper Input Validation vulnerability in jqlang jq. EPSS estimates a 0.16% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days, higher than 4.8% of scored vulnerabilities. 1 public exploit is recorded.
Not severe (CVSS 4.4, local access); no exploitation reported by the 5 checked sources
Source freshness unavailable
How is this decided?Advisory lineage
Upstream 0 · Downstream 10 · Related 8Timeline
- 11-05-2026PublishedVulnerability first disclosed.
- 13-05-2026Last modifiedVulnerability information updated.
Description
jq is a command-line JSON processor. In 1.8.1 and earlier, jq accepts embedded NUL bytes in import paths at the jq-language level, but later resolves those paths through C string operations during module and data-file lookup. This creates a mismatch between the logical import string that policy or audit code may validate and the on-disk path that jq actually opens.
CVSS metrics
5 scores · 5 sources · 1 version- OSV · AlpineEcosystem advisory · calculated4.4MediumCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:N
- OSV · UbuntuEcosystem advisory · calculated4.4MediumCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:N
- OSV · DebianEcosystem advisory · calculated4.4MediumCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:N
- NVDNIST4.4MediumCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:N
EPSS trend
Probability
0.16%
Chance of exploitation in the next 30 days
Percentile
5%
Versus all other CVEs
30-day change
Increase +0.01 pp
From 0.15% on 04-10-2026
Known exploited
Compare KEV catalogs
CISA KEVNot in the CISA KEV catalog.
ENISA CNWNot in the ENISA CNW catalog.
CIRCLNot in the CIRCL catalog.
Public exploits
1 foundJq
Maturity: poc
Weaknesses
CWE · root cause- CWE-20Improper Input ValidationThe product receives input or data, but it does not validate or incorrectly validates that the input has the properties that are required to process the data safely and correctly.
- CWE-158Improper Neutralization of Null Byte or NUL CharacterThe product receives input from an upstream component, but it does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes NUL characters or null bytes when they are sent to a downstream component.
Affected systems
Known conditions: local access, low-privilege account, no user interaction (CVSS vector). Other conditions: not stated in public data.
Alpine1 product
- jq< 1.8.2-r0
Debian1 product
- jq< 1.6-2.1+deb12u2 | < 1.7.1-6+deb13u3 | < 1.8.1-6
Jqlang1 product
- jq≤ 1.8.1
Ubuntu1 product
- jqAll versions (No fix recorded)
4 vendors · 4 products
References
7 links- github.com/jqlang/jq/security/advisories/GHSA-7q7g-mrq3-phxrX Refsource CONFIRMREPORTExploitMitigationVendor Advisory
