CVE-2023-53154: parse_string in cJSON before 1.7.18 has a heap-based buffer over-read via {"1":1, with no trailing newline if

Q: How do I fix CVE-2023-53154?

cjson: upgrade to 1.7.18. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Q: Is CVE-2023-53154 being exploited?

CVE-2023-53154 is not on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list at the time of the last update. Check again, as this can change.

Q: What does CVE-2023-53154 affect?

CVE-2023-53154 affects cjson. Severity is low (CVSS 2.9). parse_string in cJSON before 1.7.18 has a heap-based buffer over-read via {"1":1, with no trailing newline if cJSON_ParseWithLength is called.

Q: How urgent is CVE-2023-53154?

Priority 20/100. Public exploit reference

Routine

LOW 2.9UPGRADE

CVE-2023-53154 is a low-severity flaw (CVSS 2.9) affecting cjson. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

parse_string in cJSON before 1.7.18 has a heap-based buffer over-read via {"1":1, with no trailing newline if cJSON_ParseWithLength is called.

Why this priority

Public exploit reference

A fixed release or distro patch exists.

Risk facts

CVSS score	2.9 (Low)
Attack vector	Local
Attack complexity	High
Privileges needed	None
User interaction	None
EPSS exploit chance	0.3% (top 80%)
CISA exploited list	No
Weakness	CWE-125
Published	2025-05-23
Last modified	2026-06-17

Publisher (CNA): MITRE · Vendor: cjson project

Last updated 2026-06-17 · Sources: CVE Program, NVD, CISA KEV, EPSS and vendor advisories · How we score

Am I affected?

Timeline

2025-05-23 16:15 UTCPublished CVE record published
2026-06-17 06:44 UTCUpdated Record last modified

cjson project cjson UPGRADE

Affected: < 1.7.18

Fixed in: 1.7.18

Safe to downgrade to: no unaffected older release

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy cjson || rpm -q cjson || cjson --version

2. UPGRADE to 1.7.18 (Debian / Ubuntu)

sudo apt update && sudo apt install --only-upgrade cjson

2. UPGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

sudo dnf upgrade cjson

Note

Distros often backport fixes without changing the version number. Confirm with the distro advisory or changelog.

Verify at the official source NVD · CVE Program · Report a problem with this page
Scores and fixes here are computed automatically from those and other public sources. Confirm with the vendor advisory before changing production systems.

Quick answers

How do I fix CVE-2023-53154?

cjson: upgrade to 1.7.18. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Is CVE-2023-53154 being exploited?

CVE-2023-53154 is not on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list at the time of the last update. Check again, as this can change.

What does CVE-2023-53154 affect?

CVE-2023-53154 affects cjson. Severity is low (CVSS 2.9). parse_string in cJSON before 1.7.18 has a heap-based buffer over-read via {"1":1, with no trailing newline if cJSON_ParseWithLength is called.

How urgent is CVE-2023-53154?

Priority 20/100. Public exploit reference

Related CVEs

CVE-2026-16554 HIGH 7.8 DOWNGRADE cJSON library is vulnerable to an integer overflow in the print_string_ptr() function in cJSON.c on 32-bit pla
CVE-2026-67215 HIGH 7.5 UPGRADE cJSON through 1.7.19 is vulnerable to uncontrolled recursion leading to stack exhaustion when an untrusted RFC
CVE-2026-67216 MEDIUM 5.9 UPGRADE cJSON through 1.7.19 contains an inefficient algorithmic complexity flaw in cJSON_Compare()
CVE-2026-67217 MEDIUM 5.3 UPGRADE cJSON through 1.7.19 applies RFC 6902 JSON Patch operations non-atomically in apply_patch() in cJSON_Utils.c
CVE-2025-57052 CRITICAL 9.8 UPGRADE cJSON 1.5.0 through 1.7.18 allows out-of-bounds access via the decode_array_index_from_pointer function in cJS

References

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