6.2

CVE-2026-43896: jq: Stack Overflow in Recursive Object Merge

Analyzed
AliasesALPINE-CVE-2026-43896UBUNTU-CVE-2026-43896DEBIAN-CVE-2026-43896
Published 11-05-2026Last modified 12-05-2026

Vulnerability summary

CVE-2026-43896 is a medium (CVSS 6.2) Uncontrolled Recursion vulnerability in jqlang jq. EPSS estimates a 0.15% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days, higher than 4.5% of scored vulnerabilities. 1 public exploit is recorded.

Priority
Routine

Not severe (CVSS 6.2, local access); no exploitation reported by the 5 checked sources

Source freshness unavailable

How is this decided?
CVSS score
6.2/10
010
Medium · v3.1 (CVE.org)
EPSS score
0.15%
0%100%
Low · 0.00 pp in 30 days
KEVNot listedNot listed by any tracked catalog.
RansomwareNot flaggedNo ransomware use recorded.
Public exploits1github

Advisory lineage

Upstream 0 · Downstream 9 · Related 7
MGASA-2026-0535OPENSUSE-SU-2026:10850-1OPENSUSE-SU-2026:21318-1RHSA-2026:29986SUSE-SU-2026:22597-1SUSE-SU-2026:22637-1

Timeline

  1. 11-05-2026
    PublishedVulnerability first disclosed.
  2. 12-05-2026
    Last modifiedVulnerability information updated.

Description

jq is a command-line JSON processor. In 1.8.1 and earlier, unbounded recursion in jv_object_merge_recursive() allows a crafted jq program to crash the process with a segfault. The function is reachable through the * operator when both operands are objects.

CVSS metrics

5 scores · 5 sources · 1 version

EPSS trend

Probability

0.15%

Chance of exploitation in the next 30 days

Percentile

5%

Versus all other CVEs

30-day change

No change 0.00 pp

From 0.15% on 04-10-2026

04-10-202603-11-2026

Known exploited

Compare KEV catalogs
CISA KEV

Not in the CISA KEV catalog.

ENISA CNW

Not in the ENISA CNW catalog.

CIRCL

Not in the CIRCL catalog.

Public exploits

1 found
  • githubUnverified

    Jq

    Maturity: poc

Weaknesses

CWE · root cause

Affected systems

Version check

Known conditions: local access, no authentication, 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