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Full vulnerability report · 2026
CVE-2026-33996High confidence

LibJWT has NULL/bounds validation in JWK octet and RSA PSS parsing

benmcollins · libjwt

Official source article: GitHub GHSA-PH96-HQPC-9F66 ↗. Check the applicable product and release in the original source.

5.8MediumCVSS 4.0
Recommended action
Scheduled

Medium technical severity with no CISA KEV confirmation; remediate through the normal risk-based patch cycle unless local exposure raises the priority.

Patch available
R
Operational reassessment

Published severity in operational context

Open reassessment dashboard →
Published severityMediumOperational priority:Medium, unchanged from published severity.unchanged

Evidence used

  • No CISA KEV confirmation is currently recorded.
  • EPSS is 0.17% for the current model date.

Compensating controls

  • Validate the affected product branch and deploy the verified fixed release.
  • Restrict local access and enforce least privilege on affected hosts.
  • Monitor vendor guidance and exploitation sources for a material change.

Verification

  1. Confirm that the asset runs benmcollins libjwt and falls inside the recorded affected range.
  2. Verify the installed build against the product-specific fixed version after deployment.
  3. Validate exposure, authentication requirements and compensating controls in the actual environment.
  4. Reopen this reassessment when CVSS, KEV, EPSS, exploit evidence or remediation changes.
Mitigation target: As exposure requiresRemediation target: Within 365 days

This automated reassessment organises public evidence. It does not know asset exposure, business impact or control effectiveness and does not replace CVSS or a human risk decision.

Distribution package intelligence

Release-specific package status

Debian, ubuntu findings are scoped to the named distribution, release and source package. An absent finding does not mean a package is unaffected.

7 package states
Repository candidate not checked

A published vendor fix does not prove that a matching update is enabled and installable on a particular asset. Confirm the local package candidate before scheduling remediation.

Distribution releaseSource packageVendor stateFixed versionEvidence
Debian trixietrixie · sourcelibjwtNot affectedDebian marks this release not affected (fixed-version marker 0).Not published in this feedDebian Security Tracker ↗Source updated 5 Oct 2026
Debian bookwormbookworm · sourcelibjwtNot affectedDebian marks this release not affected (fixed-version marker 0).Not published in this feedDebian Security Tracker ↗Source updated 5 Oct 2026
Debian forkyforky · sourcelibjwtNot affectedDebian marks this release not affected (fixed-version marker 0).Not published in this feedDebian Security Tracker ↗Source updated 5 Oct 2026
Debian forkyforky · sourcelibjwt3Vendor fix publishedDebian records a fixed source-package version for this release.3.3.2-1Debian Security Tracker ↗Source updated 5 Oct 2026
Debian sidsid · sourcelibjwtNot affectedDebian marks this release not affected (fixed-version marker 0).Not published in this feedDebian Security Tracker ↗Source updated 5 Oct 2026
Debian sidsid · sourcelibjwt3Vendor fix publishedDebian records a fixed source-package version for this release.3.3.2-1Debian Security Tracker ↗Source updated 5 Oct 2026
Ubuntu 24.04 LTSnoble · standard archivelibjwtUnder evaluationCanonical reports that the package might be affected and still needs evaluation or fixing.Not published in this feedCanonical Ubuntu Security ↗Source updated 5 Oct 2026
Optional official sources

National CERT insights
?CERT means Computer Emergency Response Team; CSIRT is the closely related term Computer Security Incident Response Team.

Choose official national sources for this report. Each advisory shows its original language. Your selection is remembered on this device and included in shared links.

Official European source

ENISA European Vulnerability Database

Official EUVD identifiers, advisory evidence and known-exploited context. Missing fields are not treated as evidence of low risk.

1 current
ENISA EUVD identifier

EUVD-2026-16899

No EUVD known-exploited evidence

ENISA has published the identifier mapping but no EUVD description has been stored yet.

EUVD state
Present in the current official mapping
Known exploitation
Not present in the current ENISA EUVD known-exploited dataset. This is not proof of no exploitation.
ENISA score
Not supplied in the stored EUVD record
Advisory evidence
No linked advisory details stored yet
Recommended actionScheduled

Medium technical severity with no CISA KEV confirmation; remediate through the normal risk-based patch cycle unless local exposure raises the priority.

Patch available
01

What, why and how

LibJWT is a C JSON Web Token Library. Starting in version 3.0.0 and prior to version 3.3.0, the JWK parsing for RSA-PSS did not protect against a NULL value when expecting to parse JSON string values. A specially crafted JWK file could exploit this behavior by using integers in places where the code expected a string. This was fixed in v3.3.0. A workaround is available. Users importing keys through a JWK file should not do so from untrusted sources. Use the `jwk2key` tool to check for validity of a JWK file. Likewise, if possible, do not use JWK files with RSA-PSS keys.

What

LibJWT is a C JSON Web Token Library. Starting in version 3.0.0 and prior to version 3.3.0, the JWK parsing for RSA-PSS did not protect against a NULL value when expecting to parse JSON string values. A specially crafted JWK file could exploit this behavior by using integers in places where the code expected a string. This was fixed in v3.3.0. A workaround is available. Users importing keys through a JWK file should not do so from untrusted sources. Use the `jwk2key` tool to check for validity of a JWK file. Likewise, if possible, do not use JWK files with RSA-PSS keys.

Why

The product dereferences a pointer that it expects to be valid but is NULL.

How

An attacker operating through an adjacent network may attempt exploitation when the stated preconditions are met. If successful, the issue may cause the confidentiality, integrity or availability impact described by the vendor.

What

LibJWT is a C JSON Web Token Library. Starting in version 3.0.0 and prior to version 3.3.0, the JWK parsing for RSA-PSS did not protect against a NULL value when expecting to parse JSON string values. A specially crafted JWK file could exploit this behavior by using integers in places where the code expected a string. This was fixed in v3.3.0. A workaround is available. Users importing keys through a JWK file should not do so from untrusted sources. Use the `jwk2key` tool to check for validity of a JWK file. Likewise, if possible, do not use JWK files with RSA-PSS keys.

Why

The product dereferences a pointer that it expects to be valid but is NULL.

How

An attacker operating through an adjacent network may attempt exploitation when the stated preconditions are met. If successful, the issue may cause the confidentiality, integrity or availability impact described by the vendor.

02

Exploit reality and attack path

CVSS severity, EPSS forecast probability, public exploit material and CISA-confirmed exploitation are separate signals.

Observed exploitation
?Confirmed exploitation and public exploit material are separate signals. Attacks can occur without public proof-of-concept or exploit code.
No confirmed evidence

No CISA KEV match was present at the last successful refresh. This means no confirmation from that source, not proof of no exploitation.

Public PoC / exploit material
?Confirmed exploitation and public exploit material are separate signals. Attacks can occur without public proof-of-concept or exploit code.
None recorded

No exploit-tagged reference or CISA SSVC proof-of-concept state is currently recorded. Research may still exist outside the structured feeds.

Likely attack path
an adjacent network → NULL Pointer Dereference → cause the confidentiality, integrity or availability impact described by the vendor
Attack surface
Adjacent
Privileges required
None: unauthenticated exploitation is possible
User interaction
Active interaction required
Attack complexity
High: exploitation depends on specific conditions
Security boundary
Not a CVSS 4.0 base metric
Weakness
?CWE means Common Weakness Enumeration: a standard category for the underlying weakness.
CWE-476 ↗

CWE-476: NULL Pointer Dereference. The product dereferences a pointer that it expects to be valid but is NULL.

CVSS vector
?CVSS means Common Vulnerability Scoring System. The vector records the metric values used to calculate technical severity.
CVSS:4.0/AV:A/AC:H/AT:P/PR:N/UI:A/VC:L/VI:L/VA:H/SC:L/SI:L/SA:L

Common Vulnerability Scoring System 4.0: the compact vector below is decoded into plain language.

AVAdjacentAttack vector: The attacker must be on an adjacent or logically close network.ACHighAttack complexity: Successful exploitation depends on specific conditions outside the attacker's direct control.ATPresentAttack requirements: A particular deployment or execution condition must be present.PRNonePrivileges required: The attacker does not need an account or existing privileges.UIActiveUser interaction: A user must take a deliberate action for exploitation to succeed.VCLowVulnerable-system confidentiality: A successful attack can cause a limited loss.VILowVulnerable-system integrity: A successful attack can cause a limited loss.VAHighVulnerable-system availability: A successful attack can cause a major loss.SCLowSubsequent-system confidentiality: A successful attack can cause a limited loss.SILowSubsequent-system integrity: A successful attack can cause a limited loss.SALowSubsequent-system availability: A successful attack can cause a limited loss.
Post-exploitation / living off the land
Stolen credentials, tokens and legitimate administration functions may provide continued access without deploying a large custom toolset.
UnauthenticatedCWE-476
A

Official authority intelligence

Only matched European and national findings are included. Language selectors and unavailable sources are omitted.

Cyber Security Agency of Singapore · English · CSA-SB-20260401Security Bulletin 01 Apr 2026

The Cyber Security Agency of Singapore included this CVE in its official Security Bulletin 01 Apr 2026, published on 1 April 2026. Open the linked bulletin for the product, severity and reference information published in that issue.

Official advisory ↗
JVN iPedia · Japanese · JVNDB-2026-009685LibJWTにおけるNULL ポインタデリファレンスに関する脆弱性

LibJWTはC言語で作られたJSON Webトークンライブラリです。バージョン3.0.0から3.3.0未満の間、RSA-PSSのJWK解析において、JSON文字列値を解析する際にNULL値に対する保護がありませんでした。特別に細工されたJWKファイルは、コードが文字列を期待する箇所に整数を使用することでこの脆弱性を悪用できました。この問題はバージョン3.3.0で修正されています。回避策も存在します。JWKファイルを介してキーをインポートするユーザーは、信頼できないソースからのインポートを避けるべきです。JWKファイルの有効性を確認するために、`jwk2key`ツールを使用してください。可能であれば、RSA-PSSキーを含むJWKファイルの使用も避けてください。

Official advisory ↗
03

Patch and workaround

Operational remediation based on structured source evidence.

Status
?Patch availability is based on structured fixed-version fields and authoritative update references. If no fix is verified, check the vendor advisory before making a change.
Patch available
Affected
libjwt: >= 3.0.0, < 3.3.0
Fixed
An authoritative update reference is available, but the fixed version is not recorded in the structured CVE fields. Check the linked vendor advisory for the applicable release.
Action
Review the linked authoritative reference and apply the recorded fixed release appropriate to the affected product branch.
Workaround
A mitigation or workaround reference is available from the source linked below; validate it against the affected product and version.
04

Evidence and provenance

Published 27 Mar 2026 · Last source change 31 Mar 2026, 18:53 UTC · CWE-476 · NULL Pointer Dereference

CVE recordCVE.org · 5.2
CVSS sourceCNA
EPSS source
?The date BlackTree first stored a score for this CVE from the daily FIRST EPSS feed.
FIRST · tracked since 2026-08-14
European sourceENISA EUVD · EUVD-2026-16899
Product sourceCNA
Remediation sourceCVE/CNA references
CWE sourceCNA
NVD statusNVD enriched

Core structured fields are present and their contributing authorities are shown above.

Material change intelligence

What changed after publication

View recent updates ↗

No material field changes have been recorded since change tracking began. Routine source refreshes and cosmetic edits are intentionally excluded.

Material fields only · duplicate refreshes suppressed · history retained for the configured operational retention period
Technical terms and abbreviations used in this report
CVE
Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures: the public identifier for one disclosed vulnerability.
CVSS
Common Vulnerability Scoring System: a technical severity framework; it is not patching priority by itself.
EPSS
Exploit Prediction Scoring System: FIRST's estimate of the probability that exploitation activity will be observed in the next 30 days; it is a forecast, not confirmation.
CWE
Common Weakness Enumeration: the standard category describing the underlying software or hardware weakness.
CNA
CVE Numbering Authority: an organisation authorised to assign and publish CVE records.
CISA ADP
Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency Authorized Data Publisher: structured enrichment added to a CVE record.
NVD
National Vulnerability Database: NIST's enrichment service for CVE records.
CERT / CSIRT
A computer security incident response team that publishes warnings or coordinates incident response.
PoC
Proof of concept: public material that demonstrates or helps reproduce exploitation.
CSAF
Common Security Advisory Framework: a machine-readable format for security advisories.
LoTL
Living off the land: abuse of legitimate tools or system functions during an attack.
Free version - for non-commercial use only.CVE-2026-33996 · cve.blacktree.nl