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TI-2026-28979 Aliases CVE-2026-40164

jq: Algorithmic complexity DoS via hardcoded MurmurHash3 seed

Priority HIGH 72CWE-328Published · Updated

Key facts

Attack vector
Network
Privileges required
None
User interaction
None
Attack complexity
Low
Impact type
Denial of service
Confidentiality · integrity · availability
None · None · High
Fix status
Fixed

Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CNA. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat. Impact type from CWE-407.

Summary

jq is a command-line JSON processor. Before commit 0c7d133c3c7e37c00b6d46b658a02244fdd3c784, jq used MurmurHash3 with a hardcoded, publicly visible seed (0x432A9843) for all JSON object hash table operations, which allowed an attacker to precompute key collisions offline. By supplying a crafted JSON object (~100 KB) where all keys hashed to the same bucket, hash table lookups degraded from O(1) to O(n), turning any jq expression into an O(n²) operation and causing significant CPU exhaustion. This affected common jq use cases such as CI/CD pipelines, web services, and data processing scripts, and was far more practical to exploit than existing heap overflow issues since it required only a small payload. This issue has been patched in commit 0c7d133c3c7e37c00b6d46b658a02244fdd3c784.

Why it matters now

Exploitation Proof of concept CISA SSVC · not in CISA KEV
EPSS 0.00366 30th percentileScored 2026-11-07
Fix Fixed jq (jqlang): 0c7d133c3c7e37c00b6d46b658a02244fdd3c784Red Hat: 28 advisories

SSVC decision points

CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3

Exploitation
Poc
Automatable
Yes
Technical impact
Partial

The decision (Track, Attend, Act) also depends on your mission and well-being impact; see CISA's SSVC guide.

Affected products

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed inStatusSource
jqlangjqbefore 0c7d133c3c7e37c00b6d46b658a02244fdd3c7840c7d133c3c7e37c00b6d46b658a02244fdd3c784Patch availableCNA
  • jq Vendorjqlang Affected before 0c7d133c3c7e37c00b6d46b658a02244fdd3c784 Fixed in 0c7d133c3c7e37c00b6d46b658a02244fdd3c784 Patch available CNA

CPE names Threatist (inferred) · 1

Inferred from how NVD named this product before; not given by a source.

CPEVersionsRoleVendor
cpe:2.3:a:jqlang:jq:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*——jqlang
  • cpe:2.3:a:jqlang:jq:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions — — ·jqlang

Remediation

  • Fix · CNA jq (jqlang) Fixed in 0c7d133c3c7e37c00b6d46b658a02244fdd3c784

Red Hat 28 advisories

  • RHSA-2026:74674 Released 2026-10-01 · Red Hat rating Important
    Red Hat AI Base Images 3.4.3 (Neuron)
    • Red Hat OpenShift AI 3.4 registry.redhat.io/rhai/base-image-neuron-rhel9
  • RHSA-2026:34098 Released 2026-07-09 · Red Hat rating Critical
    OpenShift Container Platform 4.17.55 bug fix and security update
    • Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4.17 rhcos-aarch64-417.94.202606250942-0, rhcos-ppc64le-417.94.202606250942-0, rhcos-s390x-417.94.202606250942-0 +1
  • RHSA-2026:28887 Released 2026-07-01 · Red Hat rating Critical
    OpenShift Container Platform 4.14.68 bug fix and security update
    • Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4.14 rhcos-aarch64-414.92.202606231112-0, rhcos-ppc64le-414.92.202606231112-0, rhcos-s390x-414.92.202606231112-0 +1
Show 25 more Red Hat advisories
  • RHSA-2026:30089 Released 2026-06-25 · Red Hat rating Critical
    Red Hat AI Inference Server 3.3.5 (CUDA)
    • Red Hat AI Inference Server 3.3 registry.redhat.io/rhaiis/vllm-cuda-rhel9
  • RHSA-2026:30088 Released 2026-06-25 · Red Hat rating Critical
    Red Hat AI Inference Server 3.3.5 (ROCm)
    • Red Hat AI Inference Server 3.3 registry.redhat.io/rhaiis/vllm-rocm-rhel9
  • RHSA-2026:30087 Released 2026-06-25 · Red Hat rating Critical
    Red Hat AI Inference Server 3.3.5 (Spyre)
    • Red Hat AI Inference Server 3.3 registry.redhat.io/rhaiis/vllm-spyre-rhel9
  • RHSA-2026:30078 Released 2026-06-25 · Red Hat rating Important
    Red Hat AI Inference Server Model Optimization Tools 3.3.5 (CUDA)
    • Red Hat AI Inference Server 3.3 registry.redhat.io/rhaiis/model-opt-cuda-rhel9
  • RHSA-2026:26542 Released 2026-06-25 · Red Hat rating Critical
    OpenShift Container Platform 4.13.68 bug fix and security update
    • Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4.13 rhcos-x86_64-413.92.202606160406-0
  • RHSA-2026:26528 Released 2026-06-25 · Red Hat rating Critical
    OpenShift Container Platform 4.12.92 bug fix and security update
    • Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4.12 rhcos-x86_64-412.86.202606140301-0
  • RHSA-2026:25044 Released 2026-06-18 · Red Hat rating Important
    OpenShift Container Platform 4.16.64 bug fix and security update
    • Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4.16 rhcos-aarch64-416.94.202606051757-0, rhcos-ppc64le-416.94.202606051757-0, rhcos-s390x-416.94.202606051757-0 +1
  • RHSA-2026:25181 Released 2026-06-17 · Red Hat rating Critical
    OpenShift Container Platform 4.18.44 bug fix and security update
    • Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4.18 rhcos-aarch64-418.94.202606051320-0, rhcos-ppc64le-418.94.202606051320-0, rhcos-s390x-418.94.202606051320-0 +1
  • RHSA-2026:23233 Released 2026-06-11 · Red Hat rating Important
    OpenShift Container Platform 4.15.65 bug fix and security update
    • Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4.15 rhcos-aarch64-415.92.202606030318-0, rhcos-ppc64le-415.92.202606030318-0, rhcos-s390x-415.92.202606030318-0 +1
  • RHSA-2026:25096 Released 2026-06-10 · Red Hat rating Important
    Red Hat AI Inference Server Model Optimization Tools 3.2.2 (cuda)
    • Red Hat AI Inference Server 3.2 registry.redhat.io/rhaiis/model-opt-cuda-rhel9
  • RHSA-2026:23245 Released 2026-06-10 · Red Hat rating Important
    OpenShift Container Platform 4.19.33 bug fix and security update
    • Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4.19 rhcos-aarch64-4.19.9.6.202606031700-0, rhcos-ppc64le-4.19.9.6.202606031700-0, rhcos-s390x-4.19.9.6.202606031700-0 +1
  • RHSA-2026:19365 Released 2026-05-19 · Red Hat rating Important
    jq security update
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 9) jq-1.6-19.el9_8.2
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux CodeReady Linux Builder (v. 9) jq-devel-1.6-19.el9_8.2
  • RHSA-2026:19151 Released 2026-05-19 · Red Hat rating Important
    jq security update
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 10) jq-1.7.1-11.el10_2.2
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux CodeReady Linux Builder (v. 10) jq-devel-1.7.1-11.el10_2.2
  • RHSA-2026:18043 Released 2026-05-18 · Red Hat rating Important
    jq security update
    • Red Hat CodeReady Linux Builder EUS (v.9.4) jq-devel-1.6-16.el9_4.2
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS EUS (v.9.4) jq-1.6-16.el9_4.2
  • RHSA-2026:18047 Released 2026-05-18 · Red Hat rating Important
    jq security update
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream AUS (v.8.6) jq-1.6-3.el8_6.2
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream E4S (v.8.6) jq-1.6-3.el8_6.2
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream TUS (v.8.6) jq-1.6-3.el8_6.2
  • RHSA-2026:18042 Released 2026-05-18 · Red Hat rating Important
    jq security update
    • Red Hat CodeReady Linux Builder EUS (v.9.6) jq-devel-1.6-17.el9_6.4
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS EUS (v.9.6) jq-1.6-17.el9_6.4
  • RHSA-2026:18040 Released 2026-05-18 · Red Hat rating Important
    jq security update
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS EUS (v. 10.0) jq-1.7.1-8.el10_0.3
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux CodeReady Linux Builder EUS (v. 10.0) jq-devel-1.7.1-8.el10_0.3
  • RHSA-2026:18048 Released 2026-05-18 · Red Hat rating Important
    jq security update
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream AUS (v.8.4) jq-1.5-12.el8_4.5
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream EUS EXTENSION (v.8.4) jq-1.5-12.el8_4.5
  • RHSA-2026:18044 Released 2026-05-18 · Red Hat rating Important
    jq security update
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream E4S (v.9.2) jq-1.6-15.el9_2.3
  • RHSA-2026:18046 Released 2026-05-18 · Red Hat rating Important
    jq security update
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream E4S (v.8.8) jq-1.6-6.el8_8.4
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream TUS (v.8.8) jq-1.6-6.el8_8.4
  • RHSA-2026:18045 Released 2026-05-18 · Red Hat rating Important
    jq security update
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream E4S (v.9.0) jq-1.6-12.el9_0.3
  • RHSA-2026:16693 Released 2026-05-13 · Red Hat rating Important
    jq security update
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 9) jq-1.6-19.el9_7.0.2
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux CodeReady Linux Builder (v. 9) jq-devel-1.6-19.el9_7.0.2
  • RHSA-2026:16692 Released 2026-05-13 · Red Hat rating Important
    jq security update
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 10) jq-1.7.1-11.el10_1.0.2
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux CodeReady Linux Builder (v. 10) jq-devel-1.7.1-11.el10_1.0.2
  • RHSA-2026:16252 Released 2026-05-12 · Red Hat rating Important
    jq security update
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 8) jq-1.6-12.el8_10
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux CRB (v. 8) jq-devel-1.6-12.el8_10
  • RHSA-2026:8579 Released 2026-04-16 · Red Hat rating Important
    Red Hat Hardened Images RPMs bug fix and enhancement update
    • Red Hat Hardened Images jq-1.8.1-3.hum1@aarch64, jq-1.8.1-3.hum1@src, jq-1.8.1-3.hum1@x86_64 +2

Vendor assessments

Red Hat

Red Hat rating: Important. Red Hat's page for this CVE →

ProductStatusPlan or fix
Red Hat AI Inference Server 3.2Fixed RHSA-2026:25096
Red Hat AI Inference Server 3.3Fixed RHSA-2026:30078, RHSA-2026:30087, RHSA-2026:30088, RHSA-2026:30089
Red Hat CodeReady Linux Builder EUS (v.9.4)Fixed RHSA-2026:18043
Red Hat CodeReady Linux Builder EUS (v.9.6)Fixed RHSA-2026:18042
Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 8)Fixed RHSA-2026:16252
Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream AUS (v.8.4)Fixed RHSA-2026:18048
Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream AUS (v.8.6)Fixed RHSA-2026:18047
Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream E4S (v.8.6)Fixed RHSA-2026:18047
Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream E4S (v.8.8)Fixed RHSA-2026:18046
Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream E4S (v.9.0)Fixed RHSA-2026:18045
Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream E4S (v.9.2)Fixed RHSA-2026:18044
Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream EUS EXTENSION (v.8.4)Fixed RHSA-2026:18048
Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream TUS (v.8.6)Fixed RHSA-2026:18047
Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream TUS (v.8.8)Fixed RHSA-2026:18046
Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 10)Fixed RHSA-2026:16692, RHSA-2026:19151
Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 9)Fixed RHSA-2026:16693, RHSA-2026:19365
Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS EUS (v. 10.0)Fixed RHSA-2026:18040
Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS EUS (v.9.4)Fixed RHSA-2026:18043
Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS EUS (v.9.6)Fixed RHSA-2026:18042
Red Hat Enterprise Linux CRB (v. 8)Fixed RHSA-2026:16252
Red Hat Enterprise Linux CodeReady Linux Builder (v. 10)Fixed RHSA-2026:16692, RHSA-2026:19151
Red Hat Enterprise Linux CodeReady Linux Builder (v. 9)Fixed RHSA-2026:16693, RHSA-2026:19365
Red Hat Enterprise Linux CodeReady Linux Builder EUS (v. 10.0)Fixed RHSA-2026:18040
Red Hat Hardened ImagesFixed RHSA-2026:8579
Red Hat OpenShift AI 3.4Fixed RHSA-2026:74674
Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4.12Fixed RHSA-2026:26528
Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4.13Fixed RHSA-2026:26542
Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4.14Fixed RHSA-2026:28887
Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4.15Fixed RHSA-2026:23233
Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4.16Fixed RHSA-2026:25044
Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4.17Fixed RHSA-2026:34098
Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4.18Fixed RHSA-2026:25181
Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4.19Fixed RHSA-2026:23245

Timeline

  1. 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-40164
  2. 2026-10-25 Affected versions changed · Red Hat

References

  • TI-2026-24844 jq: Integer overflow in jvp_string_append() allows Heap-based Buffer Overflow CVSS 3.1HIGH 8.2
  • TI-2025-30431 AddressSanitizer: stack-buffer-overflow in jq_fuzz_execute (jv_string_vfmt) CVSS 4.0HIGH 7.7
  • TI-2023-26962 decToString in decNumber/decNumber.c in jq 88f01a7 has a one-byte out-of-bounds write via… CVSS 3.1HIGH 7.5
  • TI-2026-28834 jq: Out-of-Bounds Read in jv_parse_sized() Error Formatting for Non-NUL-Terminated Counted Buffers CVSS 4.0MEDIUM 6.9
  • TI-2024-35799 Type confusion in jqlang jq CVSS 3.1HIGH 8.1
  • TI-2026-36743 jq --rawfile invalid-state reuse after String too long causes heap-buffer-overflow CVSS 3.1HIGH 7.1
See all 23 →

Sources