CVE-2026-33948 Details
Description
jq is a command-line JSON processor. Commits before 6374ae0bcdfe33a18eb0ae6db28493b1f34a0a5b contain a vulnerability where CLI input parsing allows validation bypass via embedded NUL bytes. When reading JSON from files or stdin, jq uses strlen() to determine buffer length instead of the actual byte count from fgets(), causing it to truncate input at the first NUL byte and parse only the preceding prefix. This enables an attacker to craft input with a benign JSON prefix before a NUL byte followed by malicious trailing data, where jq validates only the prefix as valid JSON while silently discarding the suffix. Workflows relying on jq to validate untrusted JSON before forwarding it to downstream consumers are susceptible to parser differential attacks, as those consumers may process the full input including the malicious trailing bytes. This issue has been patched by commit 6374ae0bcdfe33a18eb0ae6db28493b1f34a0a5b.
A vulnerability in jq, a command-line JSON processor, allows for validation bypass of JSON input through the use of embedded NUL bytes. This issue is present in versions prior to the commit 6374ae0bcdfe33a18eb0ae6db28493b1f34a0a5b. The vulnerability arises because jq's input parsing method uses strlen() to determine buffer length, which truncates the input at the first NUL byte. As a result, only the JSON prefix before the NUL is validated, while any malicious data following the NUL is silently discarded. This creates a risk in workflows that rely on jq for JSON validation, as downstream consumers may process the full input, including the ignored trailing bytes, potentially leading to unintended consequences.
Users should update to the latest version of jq, where this vulnerability has been fixed.
Metrics
CVSS 4.0 Severity and Vector Strings:
CVSS 3.x Severity and Vector Strings:
No data available for CVSS Version 2.0 on this CVE.
CISA-ADP
Assessed Apr 14, 2026References to Advisories, Solutions, and Tools
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| URL | Source(s) | Tag(s) |
|---|---|---|
| https://github.com/jqlang/jq/commit/6374ae0bcdfe33a18eb0ae6db28493b1f34a0a5b | [email protected] | Patch |
| https://github.com/jqlang/jq/security/advisories/GHSA-32cx-cvvh-2wj9 | [email protected] | ExploitVendor Advisory |
Weakness Enumeration
| CWE-ID | CWE Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| CWE-170 | Improper Null Termination | [email protected] |
| CWE-20 | Improper Input Validation | [email protected] |
Affected Products
| Product | Versions |
|---|---|
| jqlang jq | < 2026-04-12 |
CPE
Remediation
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Change History
4 change records found show changes
| Date | Action | Recorded By |
|---|---|---|
| Jun 17, 2026 | CVE Modified | [email protected] |
| Jun 17, 2026 | CVE Modified | CISA-ADP |
| Apr 21, 2026 | Initial Analysis | [email protected] |
| Apr 14, 2026 | New CVE Received | [email protected] |