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GHSA-vwm4-62gf-x745 CVE-2026-54901

Oj: Use-After-Free in Oj::Parser array_class/hash_class GC Marking

High RubyGems
Severity
0.0 / 10
High · CVSS 4.0
Exploit chance (EPSS)
0.41%
Chance of exploitation in the next 30 days. Higher than 34.99% of scored vulnerabilities.
Known exploited
No
Not in CISA's catalog
Weakness
CWE-416 Use After Free
Fix
3.17.3
Upgrade oj to this version or later

Description

Summary

Oj::Parser in usual mode does not mark array_class and hash_class references during garbage collection. If GC runs after the class is assigned but before a parse, the class object is reclaimed, leaving the parser holding a dangling VALUE. The subsequent parse call dereferences the freed object, producing a segfault.

Version

  • Software: oj gem
  • Affected: all versions with ext/oj/usual.c / ext/oj/parser.c
  • Latest tested: 3.17.1 (confirmed present)

Details

The parser_mark function in ext/oj/parser.c is registered as the GC mark callback for the parser's TypedData. If array_class (stored as d->array_class in the Usual struct) is not passed to rb_gc_mark, the GC does not know it is referenced and may collect it.

When close_array_class (usual.c:405) later calls rb_funcallv on the collected class VALUE, it accesses freed memory, crashing at RIP: 0x7f... / 0x0000000000000000.

Crash output:

array_class finalized
about to parse
[BUG] Segmentation fault at 0x0000000000000000
    close_array_class+0x194  /ext/oj/usual.c:405
    parse+0x17b3             /ext/oj/parser.c:715
    parser_parse+0x10b       /ext/oj/parser.c:1408
RIP: 0x7fd1b46d68b7  RBP: 0x0000000000000000

Reproduce

require 'oj'
p = Oj::Parser.new(:usual,
  array_class: (ac = Class.new { def <<(_x); end }))
ObjectSpace.define_finalizer(ac, proc { warn 'array_class finalized' })
ac = nil
GC.start(full_mark: true, immediate_sweep: true)  # collect the class
p.parse('[1]')  # segfault

Affected versions

RubyGems

PackageVulnerableFixed in
oj
< 3.17.3
3.17.3

How to fix

Move to the fixed version or later with your package manager, update the lockfile, and run your tests. If the package only arrives through another dependency, upgrade that dependency first. If none of its releases pulls a fixed version yet, force the version with your package manager's override.

oj RubyGems → 3.17.3

bundler
bundle update oj # Gemfile: gem "oj", ">= 3.17.3"

Severity breakdown

CVSS 4.0 0.0

CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:N/VI:N/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N

Attack vector
Network
Attack complexity
Low
Attack requirements
None
Privileges required
None
User interaction
None
Confidentiality (vulnerable system)
None
Integrity (vulnerable system)
None
Availability (vulnerable system)
High
Confidentiality (subsequent systems)
None
Integrity (subsequent systems)
None
Availability (subsequent systems)
None

Weakness

CWE-416: Use After Free

The product reuses or references memory after it has been freed. At some point afterward, the memory may be allocated again and saved in another pointer, while the original pointer references a location somewhere within the new allocation. Any operations using the original pointer are no longer valid because the memory "belongs" to the code that operates on the new pointer.

How to prevent it
  • Architecture and Design: Choose a language that provides automatic memory management.
  • Implementation: When freeing pointers, be sure to set them to NULL once they are freed. However, the utilization of multiple or complex data structures may lower the usefulness of this strategy.

References

Timeline

  1. Published
  2. Last updated by the source
  3. Latest EPSS score
AdvisorySeverityWhy it's related
GHSA-475m-ph3x-64gp
Oj: Integer Overflow in Oj.load 2GB String Handling
High Also affects oj
GHSA-m578-w5vf-rfcm
Oj: Use-After-Free in Oj::Parser SAJ Long Key Callback
High Also affects oj
GHSA-9cv6-qcjw-4grx
Oj: Negative-Size memcpy in Oj::Parser create_id Attribute Handling
High Also affects oj
GHSA-q2gm-54r6-8fwm
Oj: Use-After-Free in Oj::Parser SAJ Callback via Input Mutation
High Also affects oj
GHSA-9ppp-w3g4-fh4q
Oj: Use-After-Free in Oj::Doc Iterators via Reentrant Close
High Also affects oj
GHSA-35w3-pjm6-wj95
Oj: Heap Buffer Overflow in Oj.dump Exception Serialization via Large Indent
High Also affects oj
GHSA-3m6q-jj5j-38c9
Oj: Stack Buffer Overflow in Oj::Doc#each_child via Deeply Nested Input
High Also affects oj
GHSA-fm7p-mprw-wjm9
Oj: intern.c form_attr (uninitialized stack read)
Medium Also affects oj
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