The parse_string function in cjson.c in the cJSON library mishandles UTF8/16 strings…
Priority MEDIUM 52CWE-120Published · Updated
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Network
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- Code execution
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- High · High · High
- Fix status
- No fix listed
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · NVD. Fix status from CNA. Impact type from CWE-120 and the CVSS impact.
Summary
The parse_string function in cjson.c in the cJSON library mishandles UTF8/16 strings, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (crash) or execute arbitrary code via a non-hex character in a JSON string, which triggers a heap-based buffer overflow.
Why it matters now
EPSS 0.06963 94th percentileScored 2026-11-07
Public exploit Yes 2 exploit referencesTagged by NVD
Fix No fix listed No fixed version in the sources yet
SSVC decision points
Not available: CISA has not published SSVC decision points for this record.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | — | all versions | — | No fix listed | CNA |
- — Vendor— Affected all versions Fixed in — No fix listed CNA
CPE configurations NVD · 5
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:a:es:iperf3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 3.0 to before 3.0.12; 3.1 to before 3.1.3 | Vulnerable | ES |
| cpe:2.3:a:novell:suse_package_hub_for_suse_linux_enterprise:12:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 12 | Vulnerable | Novell |
| cpe:2.3:o:opensuse:leap:42.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 42.1 | Vulnerable | openSUSE |
| cpe:2.3:o:opensuse:opensuse:13.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 13.2 | Vulnerable | openSUSE |
| cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:8.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 8.0 | Vulnerable | Debian |
- cpe:2.3:a:es:iperf3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 3.0 to before 3.0.12; 3.1 to before 3.1.3 Vulnerable ·ES
- cpe:2.3:a:novell:suse_package_hub_for_suse_linux_enterprise:12:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 12 Vulnerable ·Novell
- cpe:2.3:o:opensuse:leap:42.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 42.1 Vulnerable ·openSUSE
- cpe:2.3:o:opensuse:opensuse:13.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 13.2 Vulnerable ·openSUSE
- cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:8.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 8.0 Vulnerable ·Debian
Remediation
No fixed version listed by the sources yet.
Vendor assessments
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2016-4303
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-86rq-gv28-jjr6
References
Exploit 2
Advisory 5
- http://software.es.net/iperf/news.html#security-issue-iperf-3-1-3-iperf-3-0-12-released
- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/esnet/security/master/cve-2016-4303/esnet-secadv-2016-0001.txt.asc
- openSUSE-SU-2016:2113
- openSUSE-SU-2016:2121
- [debian-lts-announce] 20200127 [SECURITY] [DLA 2080-1] iperf3 security update
Sources
- CVE-2016-4303 · CVE Program
- CVE-2016-4303 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-86rq-gv28-jjr6 · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2016-4303 · Red Hat security data · CC BY 4.0
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences