CVE-2025-57052 — cJSON JSON-Pointer OOB Access (Critical)

 

What it is:

A flaw in cJSON (versions 1.5.0–1.7.18) lets malformed JSON Pointer strings bypass array-bounds checks in decode_array_index_from_pointer() (file: cJSON_Utils.c). This can trigger out-of-bounds access, leaks of adjacent memory, crashes (DoS), or aid exploitation chains in apps that parse untrusted JSON. NVDDaily CyberSecuritywiz.iosuse.com

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Risk & impact (why you should care)

• Who’s exposed: Any service, agent, CLI, or embedded app that links against vulnerable cJSON and dereferences user-supplied JSON Pointers (including SDKs, IoT firmware, security agents, proxies). NVD

• Likely outcomes: Process crash (DoS), info disclosure via OOB reads, and potential memory corruption scenarios depending on compiler/ASLR/UBSAN hardening. Public write-ups show PoC techniques; treat as critical in internet-facing parsers. Daily CyberSecurity

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Indicators & detection

• Unusual 4xx/5xx spikes around JSON APIs that use pointer queries (e.g., /doc#/paths/…-style lookups).

• Crashes or sanitizer logs referencing cJSON_Utils.c / decode_array_index_from_pointer.

• Fuzzing or WAF logs containing pointer tokens with alphanumeric segments crafted to evade checks. NVD

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Immediate actions (owner’s playbook)

1. Patch/Update

   • Upgrade cJSON to a fixed release newer than 1.7.18 (vendors are rolling updates; track your distro advisories). suse.com

2. Rebuild & redeploy all services that vendor or statically link cJSON.

3. Input hardening

   • Reject unexpected JSON Pointers at the edge; whitelist schemas; cap pointer depth/length.

4. Exploit surface reduction

   • Disable pointer-based lookups where not essential.

5. Runtime protection

   • Enable ASLR/stack canaries/UBSAN; run services under least privilege; add crash-loop alerts.

6. Threat hunt

   • Search app/API logs for malformed pointer strings causing errors prior to patch windows.

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SBOM & supply-chain checks

• SCA: scan repos/containers for cjson 1.5.0–1.7.18.

• SBOM: verify transitive deps in vendor SDKs (many embed cJSON).

• Distros: follow vendor errata (SUSE/Red Hat pages track status). suse.comRed Hat Customer Portal

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Communication template (to customers/execs)

We identified a critical upstream parsing bug (CVE-2025-57052) in cJSON used by our [components]. We’ve upgraded to the vendor-fixed version and redeployed. No evidence of exploitation so far; we added WAF rules to block malformed JSON-pointer inputs and improved crash telemetry.

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References (authoritative)

• NVD: cJSON 1.5.0–1.7.18 OOB via JSON Pointer handling (decode_array_index_from_pointer). NVD

• Research note / PoC overview (SecurityOnline). Daily CyberSecurity

• Wiz analysis (impact & guidance). wiz.io

• SUSE tracker (packager status). suse.com

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