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CVE-2026-54902

HIGH

Oj: Use-After-Free in Oj::Parser SAJ Long Key Callback

Published June 19, 2026Updated June 26, 2026Source: osv

Summary

### Summary `Oj::Parser` in SAJ mode does not protect cached object keys (≥ 35 bytes) from garbage collection. A Ruby callback that triggers GC inside `hash_end` can cause the key string to be reclaimed while the C parser still holds a pointer to it. The subsequent access to the freed string VALUE results in a segfault, confirmed by an RIP pointing to address `0x4242` (a canary-style pattern suggesting control over the freed memory's content). ### Version - **Software**: oj gem - **Affected**: all versions with `ext/oj/saj2.c` / `ext/oj/parser.c` - **Latest tested**: 3.17.1 (confirmed present) ### Details Short keys (≤ 34 bytes) are stored inline on the C stack and are safe. Long keys (≥ 35 bytes) are stored as heap-allocated Ruby String objects passed to `rb_funcall` as the `key` argument. Between the key being resolved and the callback completing, a GC triggered inside the callback (e.g. `GC.start`) can collect the key String, leaving a dangling VALUE. Crash output: ``` long_key_trigger [BUG] Segmentation fault at 0x0000000000004242 close_object+0x260 /ext/oj/usual.c:405 (calls rb_funcall with freed key) parse+0x11ff /ext/oj/parser.c:693 parser_parse+0x145 /ext/oj/parser.c:1408 RIP: 0x7fd1b46d68b7 RDI: 0x0000000000004242 (freed key VALUE) R12: 0x0000000000004242 ``` The freed VALUE `0x4242` shows the attacker-controlled content of the key string was loaded as a pointer — a classic use-after-free indicator. ### Reproduce ```ruby require 'oj' class H < Oj::Saj def add_value(value, key) GC.start(full_mark: true, immediate_sweep: true) if key == 'x' end def hash_start(key); end def hash_end(key); end end p = Oj::Parser.new(:saj) p.handler = H.new p.parse('{"' + 'A' * 35 + '":{"x":1}}') # long outer key, GC fires on inner key ```

Remediation

Upgrade to the fixed version using your package manager.

Bundler
Update oj to 3.17.3 or later
gem install oj -v 3.17.3

After upgrading, run your dependency scanner again to confirm the vulnerability is resolved.

Affected Packages (1)

PackageEcosystemAffectedFixed In
oj
rubygems
0.5, 0.5.1, 0.5.2, 0.6.0 (+290 more)3.17.3

Vulnerability Classification

Common Weakness Enumeration (CWE) identifiers for this vulnerability type.

CVSS Score Breakdown

What the CVSS (Common Vulnerability Scoring System) 7.5 score means for each attack dimension.

Attack Vector
Network
Attack Complexity
Low
Privileges Required
None
User Interaction
None
Scope
Confidentiality
Integrity
Availability

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

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2026-54902?
Oj: Use-After-Free in Oj::Parser SAJ Long Key Callback This vulnerability has been assigned a severity rating of HIGH (CVSS score: 7.5/10).
How do I check if my project is affected by CVE-2026-54902?
CVE-2026-54902 affects oj. Use GeekWala's free vulnerability scanner to check your dependencies against CVE-2026-54902 and 200,000+ other known vulnerabilities.

Severity & Exploitability

CVSS Score
7.5

High exploitability or significant impact. Prioritize remediation within days.

Also Known As

GHSA-m578-w5vf-rfcm

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