jmespath.php has CompilerRuntime code injection via unescaped function names
jmespath · jmespath.php
Official source article: GitHub GHSA-PCW8-M77R-2528 ↗. Check the applicable product and release in the original source.
9.8CriticalCVSS 3.1
Recommended action
Within 72 hours
Critical technical impact with a remotely reachable, unauthenticated path and a public exploit reference; no CISA KEV confirmation is currently recorded.
Published severityCritical→Operational priority:Critical, unchanged from published severity.unchanged
Evidence used
No CISA KEV confirmation is currently recorded.
A structured source references public exploit or proof-of-concept material.
The selected CVSS metric records a network-reachable, unauthenticated path with no user interaction.
EPSS is 0.56% for the current model date.
Compensating controls
Apply the linked authoritative mitigation while planning the permanent fix.
Restrict the affected network interface to trusted sources where business-safe.
Increase monitoring for the attack path and post-exploitation behaviour described in the report.
Verification
Confirm that the asset runs jmespath jmespath.php and falls inside the recorded affected range.
Recheck the vendor advisory before scheduling a change because no verified fixed version is currently retained.
Validate exposure, authentication requirements and compensating controls in the actual environment.
Reopen this reassessment when CVSS, KEV, EPSS, exploit evidence or remediation changes.
Open-source package ranges1 source-attributed range
These OSV and GitHub advisory ranges apply only to the named package and ecosystem. A listed fixed version is not a universal product patch or proof that an update is installed.
Structured product status and remediation from the issuing vendor. Product-state explanations are always visible; large lists can be searched or downloaded.
1 current
CVE-2026-54133 · CSAF 2.0 · revision 3 · finalRed Hat Product Securityjmespath.php: jmespath.php has CompilerRuntime code injection via unescaped function names
1 known not affected
The vendor explicitly states that these products are not affected by this CVE.
All currently supported Red Hat products
Summary
A flaw was found in jmespath.php, a library for processing JSON documents in PHP applications. This vulnerability allows a remote attacker to execute arbitrary code by crafting a malicious JMESPath expression. The `JmesPath\CompilerRuntime` component fails to properly escape function names, leading to the generation and execution of attacker-controlled PHP code within the application's cache file. This could result in a complete compromise of the affected system.
Remediation
No remediation text is recorded.
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-2026-36431
No EUVD known-exploited evidence
jmespath.php has CompilerRuntime code injection via unescaped function names
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
9.8 · CVSS 3.1
Advisory evidence
No linked advisory details stored yet
Recommended actionWithin 72 hours
Critical technical impact with a remotely reachable, unauthenticated path and a public exploit reference; no CISA KEV confirmation is currently recorded.
Mitigation available
01
What, why and how
jmespath.php allows users to use JMESPath, software for declaratively specifying how to extract elements from a JSON document, in PHP applications with PHP data structures. Versions prior to 2.9.1 can generate and execute attacker-controlled PHP code when `JmesPath\CompilerRuntime` is used with an attacker-controlled JMESPath expression. The compiler emits parsed JMESPath function names into generated PHP source without sufficient escaping. A crafted expression can cause the generated cache file to contain executable attacker-controlled PHP, which is then loaded by the compiler runtime. The issue is patched in `2.9.1` and later. As a workaround, disable `JP_PHP_COMPILE` and do not use `JmesPath\CompilerRuntime` with attacker-controlled expressions. Use the default `AstRuntime` for untrusted expressions. Applications that must continue accepting untrusted JMESPath expressions before upgrading should ensure those expressions are never evaluated by the compiler runtime.
What
jmespath.php allows users to use JMESPath, software for declaratively specifying how to extract elements from a JSON document, in PHP applications with PHP data structures. Versions prior to 2.9.1 can generate and execute attacker-controlled PHP code when `JmesPath\CompilerRuntime` is used with an attacker-controlled JMESPath expression. The compiler emits parsed JMESPath function names into generated PHP source without sufficient escaping. A crafted expression can cause the generated cache file to contain executable attacker-controlled PHP, which is then loaded by the compiler runtime. The issue is patched in `2.9.1` and later. As a workaround, disable `JP_PHP_COMPILE` and do not use `JmesPath\CompilerRuntime` with attacker-controlled expressions. Use the default `AstRuntime` for untrusted expressions. Applications that must continue accepting untrusted JMESPath expressions before upgrading should ensure those expressions are never evaluated by the compiler runtime.
Why
The product receives input or data, but it does not validate or incorrectly validates that the input has the properties that are required to process the data safely and correctly.
How
An attacker operating through a network path may attempt exploitation without authentication or user interaction. If successful, the issue may cause the confidentiality, integrity or availability impact described by the vendor.
What
jmespath.php allows users to use JMESPath, software for declaratively specifying how to extract elements from a JSON document, in PHP applications with PHP data structures. Versions prior to 2.9.1 can generate and execute attacker-controlled PHP code when `JmesPath\CompilerRuntime` is used with an attacker-controlled JMESPath expression. The compiler emits parsed JMESPath function names into generated PHP source without sufficient escaping. A crafted expression can cause the generated cache file to contain executable attacker-controlled PHP, which is then loaded by the compiler runtime. The issue is patched in `2.9.1` and later. As a workaround, disable `JP_PHP_COMPILE` and do not use `JmesPath\CompilerRuntime` with attacker-controlled expressions. Use the default `AstRuntime` for untrusted expressions. Applications that must continue accepting untrusted JMESPath expressions before upgrading should ensure those expressions are never evaluated by the compiler runtime.
Why
The product receives input or data, but it does not validate or incorrectly validates that the input has the properties that are required to process the data safely and correctly.
How
An attacker operating through a network path may attempt exploitation without authentication or user interaction. 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.Reference recorded
CISA Vulnrichment records proof-of-concept exploitation in its SSVC data. BlackTree has not independently executed or validated exploit material.
Likely attack path
a network path → Improper Input Validation → cause the confidentiality, integrity or availability impact described by the vendor
Attack surface
Network
Privileges required
None: unauthenticated exploitation is possible
User interaction
None
Attack complexity
Low: no specialised conditions are recorded
Security boundary
Unchanged: impact remains within the vulnerable component's security authority
Weakness ?CWE means Common Weakness Enumeration: a standard category for the underlying weakness.
CWE-20: Improper Input Validation. The product receives input or data, but it does not validate or incorrectly validates that the input has the properties that are required to process the data safely and correctly.
CVSS vector ?CVSS means Common Vulnerability Scoring System. The vector records the metric values used to calculate technical severity.
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Common Vulnerability Scoring System 3.1: the compact vector below is decoded into plain language.
AVNetworkAttack vector: The vulnerable component can be reached over a network.ACLowAttack complexity: No specialised conditions are required beyond attacker-controlled input.PRNonePrivileges required: The attacker does not need an account or existing privileges.UINoneUser interaction: No action by another user is required.SUnchangedScope: The security impact remains within the vulnerable component's authority.CHighConfidentiality impact: A successful attack can cause a major loss.IHighIntegrity impact: A successful attack can cause a major loss.AHighAvailability impact: A successful attack can cause a major loss.
Post-exploitation / living off the land
No specific living-off-the-land technique is confirmed in the structured sources. Monitor normal administration tools for activity inconsistent with the affected service's baseline.
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.
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.