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🛡️ CVE-2023-50268 — jq

🟡 CVSS 6.2 — Medium ⚠️ Exploit Public CWE-120 NVD
6.2
CVSS Score
0 Low4 Medium7 High9 Critical10

Description

jq is a command-line JSON processor. Version 1.7 is vulnerable to stack-based buffer overflow in builds using decNumber. Version 1.7.1 contains a patch for this issue.

How this vulnerability can be exploited

This issue can be reached with local access to the system, attack complexity is low, an attacker needs no privileges on the target. No user interaction is required. The scope is unchanged, so the impact stays within the vulnerable component. Rated impact: confidentiality none, integrity none, availability high.

CVSS metrics in full

The score comes from this vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

  • Attack vector: Local — a local account, shell or session on the host is needed.
  • Attack complexity: Low — the attack works reliably, with no preparation.
  • Privileges required: None — an unauthenticated stranger can try it.
  • User interaction: None — nobody has to be tricked into anything.
  • Scope: Unchanged — the damage stays inside the vulnerable component.
  • Confidentiality impact: None.
  • Integrity impact: None.
  • Availability impact: High — total loss, or loss the attacker controls.

Weakness class

CVE-2023-50268 is classified as CWE-120: Classic Buffer Overflow. Input is copied into a fixed-size buffer without a length check, overwriting memory past the end of it.

Affected software

CVE-2023-50268 is recorded against 1 package.

  • jq

Timeline and source

Published on 13 December 2023 and last revised on 17 June 2026. A public exploit is known to exist, which raises the urgency of patching considerably. A vendor advisory or fix has been published. Record sourced from NVD.

References

www.openwall.com
bugs.chromium.org
github.com
github.com
github.com
www.openwall.com
bugs.chromium.org
github.com
github.com
github.com

Other advisories for this package

jq has other advisories on record. If you are patching this one, these are worth checking on the same host:

Same weakness in other software

These advisories are the same class of weakness (CWE-120: Classic Buffer Overflow) in other software:

CVE-2023-50268 on other distributions

Each distribution ships its own build and its own fixed version. Pick the one you run:

Details

Severity MEDIUM
CVSS Score 6.2
CVSS Vector CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
CWE CWE-120
Public Exploit ⚠️ Yes
Source NVD
Published 2023-12-13
Updated 2026-08-20
Modified 2026-06-17

Affected Packages

Software From version Fixed in
jq — —

References

Mailing List, Patch, Third Party Advisory http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2023/12/15/10
Mailing List, Patch, Third Party Advisory http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2023/12/15/10

Similar Threats

Exploit Protection

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CVE-2023-50268 carries CVSS 6.2 Medium rating and a public exploit already exists. BotEraser checks your installation against this and other known CVE records, and blocks IPs associated with exploit activity.

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ⓘ Data Notice: The information presented above has been compiled from publicly available internet sources. Boteraser aggregates this data solely for informational purposes and does not independently classify, evaluate, or endorse any findings about the vulnerabilities listed. The accuracy and completeness of this information is the sole responsibility of the original publishers. Boteraser and its operators accept no liability for any decisions made based on this data.

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