Published: October 19, 2026 | Last Modified: October 19, 2026
Cpanel::JSON::XS versions from 4.51 before 4.80 for Perl allow quadratic CPU use by revalidating the remaining buffer per value in incr_parse. At the first non-ASCII byte in a string, the decoder validates UTF-8 from there to the end of its input. incr_parse decodes each buffered value with a fresh decoder, so every value revalidates the rest of the buffer, and doubling the input quadruples the work. A peer that sends about a megabyte of ordinary non-ASCII JSON in one read ties up the process for seconds of CPU time.
This analysis is generated by Ghostwire from NVD, CISA KEV, EPSS, and open-source intelligence data. Verify findings through primary sources before acting.