CVE-2026-124540
JSON::XS versions before 4.05 for Perl allow stack exhaustion via nested tagged values under allow_tags in decode_tag
Description
JSON::XS versions before 4.05 for Perl allow stack exhaustion via nested tagged values under allow_tags in decode_tag. With allow_tags, "(" starts a tagged value. Its tag and value are decoded recursively, and each can start another tagged value. Unlike arrays and objects, this nesting is not counted against max_depth. A run of "(" bytes exhausts the C stack and triggers an uncatchable segmentation fault regardless of max_depth.
Key facts
- Published
- 14 Nov 2026
- Last changed
- 14 Nov 2026
- Assigned by
- CPANSec
- EPSS
- 0.204% likely to be exploited in the next 30 days, higher than 10.442% of CVEs (scores for 15 Nov 2026)
What to do
- Upgrade to JSON-XS 4.05 or later.CNA solution statement
Historical context and remediation
This reference retains the original CVE publication date. A recent record update does not mean a new attack occurred.
No separately sourced impact summary is available on this page yet. Consult the description, version data and dated exploitation evidence.
Version statuses below come from the CNA. An “unaffected” version is not necessarily a currently supported release or proof of a patch date. EPSS is a dated risk estimate, not a count of historical attacks.
Timeline
- 13 Nov 2026 Version 4.05 released with fix.
- 14 Nov 2026 Published