Answer in brief
CVE-2026-54902 records a High severity (CVSS 6.3) vulnerability in Oj: Use-After-Free in Oj::Parser SAJ Long Key Callback. The current sources do not mark it as known exploited. The current feed maps oj (rubygems), oj (rubygems). Check affected ranges and fixed versions before updating.
Analysis pending evidence review
HOL Guard separates source facts from reviewed analysis. See the methodology.
CVSS is 6.3. The current sources do not mark it as known exploited. Treat this as a source-backed prioritization signal, not a statement about your environment.
Analysis status
Analysis pending evidence review
Factual feed record only; HOL analysis is not approved for indexing. Read the methodology.
The current feed maps oj (rubygems), oj (rubygems). Check affected ranges and fixed versions before updating.
| Package | Affected range | Fixed version |
|---|---|---|
| ojrubygems | <3.17.2 | 3.17.3 |
| ojrubygems | >=0 <3.17.3 | 3.17.3 |
Published upstream
Jun 19, 2026
Evidence: source:osv:source_dates:source-dates:recordSource modified
Sep 10, 2026
Evidence: source:osv:source_dates:source-dates:recordFirst seen by HOL
Jun 19, 2026
### Summary `Oj::Parser` in SAJ mode does not protect cached object keys (≥ 35 bytes) from garbage collection. A Ruby callback that triggers GC inside `hash_end` can cause the key string to be reclaimed while the C parser still holds a pointer to it. The subsequent access to the freed string VALUE results in a segfault, confirmed by an RIP pointing to address `0x4242` (a canary-style pattern suggesting control over the freed memory's content). ### Version - **Software**: oj gem - **Affected**: all versions with `ext/oj/saj2.c` / `ext/oj/parser.c` - **Latest tested**: 3.17.1 (confirmed present) ### Details Short keys (≤ 34 bytes) are stored inline on the C stack and are safe. Long keys (≥ 35 bytes) are stored as heap-allocated Ruby String objects passed to `rb_funcall` as the `key` argument. Between the key being resolved and the callback completing, a GC triggered inside the callback (e.g. `GC.start`) can collect the key String, leaving a dangling VALUE. Crash output: ``` long_key_trigger [BUG] Segmentation fault at 0x0000000000004242 close_object+0x260 /ext/oj/usual.c:405 (calls rb_funcall with freed key) parse+0x11ff /ext/oj/parser.c:693 parser_parse+0x145 /ext/oj/parser.c:1408 RIP: 0x7fd1b46d68b7 RDI: 0x0000000000004242 (freed key VALUE) R12: 0x0000000000004242 ``` The freed VALUE `0x4242` shows the attacker-controlled content of the key string was loaded as a pointer — a classic use-after-free indicator. ### Reproduce ```ruby require 'oj' class H < Oj::Saj def add_value(value, key) GC.start(full_mark: true, immediate_sweep: true) if key == 'x' end def hash_start(key); end def hash_end(key); end end p = Oj::Parser.new(:saj) p.handler = H.new p.parse('{"' + 'A' * 35 + '":{"x":1}}') # long outer key, GC fires on inner key ```
Quoted source text, attributed separately from HOL analysis.