CVE-2026-54901

Oj (Optimized JSON) is a JSON parser and Object marshaller packaged as a Ruby gem. In versions prior to 3.17.2, Oj::Parser in usual mode does not mark array_class and hash_class references during garbage collection, leading to Use-After-Free. If GC runs after the class is assigned but before a parse, the class object is reclaimed, leaving the parser holding a dangling VALUE. The subsequent parse call dereferences the freed object, producing a segfault. This issue has been fixed in version 3.17.2.

Oj (Optimized JSON) is a JSON parser and Object marshaller packaged as a Ruby gem. In versions prior to 3.17.2, Oj::Parser in usual mode does not mark array_class and hash_class references during garbage collection, leading to Use-After-Free. If GC runs after the class is assigned but before a parse, the class object is reclaimed, leaving the parser holding a dangling VALUE. The subsequent parse call dereferences the freed object, producing a segfault. This issue has been fixed in version 3.17.2.

Summary

Oj::Parser in usual mode does not mark array_class and hash_class references during garbage collection. If GC runs after the class is assigned but before a parse, the class object is reclaimed, leaving the parser holding a dangling VALUE. The subsequent parse call dereferences the freed object, producing a segfault.

Version

• Software: oj gem
• Affected: all versions with ext/oj/usual.c / ext/oj/parser.c
• Latest tested: 3.17.1 (confirmed present)

Details

The parser_mark function in ext/oj/parser.c is registered as the GC mark callback for the parser's TypedData. If array_class (stored as d->array_class in the Usual struct) is not passed to rb_gc_mark, the GC does not know it is referenced and may collect it.

When close_array_class (usual.c:405) later calls rb_funcallv on the collected class VALUE, it accesses freed memory, crashing at RIP: 0x7f... / 0x0000000000000000.

Crash output:

array_class finalized
about to parse
[BUG] Segmentation fault at 0x0000000000000000
    close_array_class+0x194  /ext/oj/usual.c:405
    parse+0x17b3             /ext/oj/parser.c:715
    parser_parse+0x10b       /ext/oj/parser.c:1408
RIP: 0x7fd1b46d68b7  RBP: 0x0000000000000000

Reproduce

require 'oj'
p = Oj::Parser.new(:usual,
  array_class: (ac = Class.new { def <<(_x); end }))
ObjectSpace.define_finalizer(ac, proc { warn 'array_class finalized' })
ac = nil
GC.start(full_mark: true, immediate_sweep: true)  # collect the class
p.parse('[1]')  # segfault

Oj (Optimized JSON) is a JSON parser and Object marshaller packaged as a Ruby gem. In versions prior to 3.17.2, Oj::Parser in usual mode does not mark array_class and hash_class references during garbage collection, leading to Use-After-Free. If GC runs after the class is assigned but before a parse, the class object is reclaimed, leaving the parser holding a dangling VALUE. The subsequent parse call dereferences the freed object, producing a segfault. This issue has been fixed in version 3.17.2.

Oj (Optimized JSON) is a JSON parser and Object marshaller packaged as a Ruby gem. In versions prior to 3.17.2, Oj::Parser in usual mode does not mark array_class and hash_class references during garbage collection, leading to Use-After-Free. If GC runs after the class is assigned but before a parse, the class object is reclaimed, leaving the parser holding a dangling VALUE. The subsequent parse call dereferences the freed object, producing a segfault. This issue has been fixed in version 3.17.2.

Summary

Oj::Parser in usual mode does not mark array_class and hash_class references during garbage collection. If GC runs after the class is assigned but before a parse, the class object is reclaimed, leaving the parser holding a dangling VALUE. The subsequent parse call dereferences the freed object, producing a segfault.

Version

• Software: oj gem
• Affected: all versions with ext/oj/usual.c / ext/oj/parser.c
• Latest tested: 3.17.1 (confirmed present)

Details

The parser_mark function in ext/oj/parser.c is registered as the GC mark callback for the parser's TypedData. If array_class (stored as d->array_class in the Usual struct) is not passed to rb_gc_mark, the GC does not know it is referenced and may collect it.

When close_array_class (usual.c:405) later calls rb_funcallv on the collected class VALUE, it accesses freed memory, crashing at RIP: 0x7f... / 0x0000000000000000.

Crash output:

array_class finalized
about to parse
[BUG] Segmentation fault at 0x0000000000000000
    close_array_class+0x194  /ext/oj/usual.c:405
    parse+0x17b3             /ext/oj/parser.c:715
    parser_parse+0x10b       /ext/oj/parser.c:1408
RIP: 0x7fd1b46d68b7  RBP: 0x0000000000000000

Reproduce

require 'oj'
p = Oj::Parser.new(:usual,
  array_class: (ac = Class.new { def <<(_x); end }))
ObjectSpace.define_finalizer(ac, proc { warn 'array_class finalized' })
ac = nil
GC.start(full_mark: true, immediate_sweep: true)  # collect the class
p.parse('[1]')  # segfault

Oj (Optimized JSON) is a JSON parser and Object marshaller packaged as a Ruby gem. In versions prior to 3.17.2, Oj::Parser in usual mode does not mark array_class and hash_class references during garbage collection, leading to Use-After-Free. If GC runs after the class is assigned but before a parse, the class object is reclaimed, leaving the parser holding a dangling VALUE. The subsequent parse call dereferences the freed object, producing a segfault. This issue has been fixed in version 3.17.2.