GHSA-vwm4-62gf-x745 CVE-2026-54901
Oj: Use-After-Free in Oj::Parser array_class/hash_class GC Marking
- 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
| Package | Vulnerable | Fixed 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
Packages
Other links
Timeline
- Published
- Last updated by the source
- Latest EPSS score
Related advisories
| Advisory | Severity | Why 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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