Vulnerability · Published Apr 18, 2026 · Assigned by GitHub_M
CVE-2026-41242protobufjs has an arbitrary code execution issue
High 8.8
In plain English
A high-severity code injection in protobuf.js from protobufjs. Proof-of-concept exploit code is public. The chance it is exploited in the next 30 days is estimated at 0.8% (higher than 56% of all known vulnerabilities). Ready-made attack tooling exists: public proof-of-concept code. Fixed versions are available - upgrade the affected package.
Official description
protobufjs compiles protobuf definitions into JavaScript (JS) functions. In versions prior to 8.0.1, 7.5.5, and 6.11.6, attackers can inject arbitrary code in the "type" fields of protobuf definitions, which will then execute during object decoding using that definition. Versions 8.0.1, 7.5.5, and 6.11.6 patch the issue.
Affected packages & fixed versions
| Ecosystem | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | protobuf | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-41242 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | protobuf | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-41242 |
| Ubuntu:25.10 | protobuf | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-41242 |
| npm | protobufjs | 8.0.1 | GHSA-xq3m-2v4x-88gg |
| npm | protobufjs | 7.5.5 | GHSA-xq3m-2v4x-88gg |
| npm | protobufjs | 6.11.6 | GHSA-xq3m-2v4x-88gg |
Affected products (as reported)
| Vendor | Product | Versions |
|---|---|---|
| protobufjs | protobuf.js | >= 7.0.0, < 7.5.5>= 8.0.0-experimental, < 8.0.1< 6.11.6 |
Weakness: CWE-94 · Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
References
- https://github.com/protobufjs/protobuf.js/security/advisories/GHSA-xq3m-2v4x-88gg x_refsource_CONFIRM
- https://github.com/protobufjs/protobuf.js/commit/086916b4a52c9f73ce88956edbb38fc902e54bbf x_refsource_MISC
- https://github.com/protobufjs/protobuf.js/commit/535df444ac060243722ac5d672db205e5c531d75 x_refsource_MISC
- https://github.com/protobufjs/protobuf.js/commit/ff7b2afef8754837cc6dc64c864cd111ab477956 x_refsource_MISC
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:21338 x_refsource_MISC
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:24977 x_refsource_MISC
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:26234 x_refsource_MISC
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:37275 x_refsource_MISC
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:62260 x_refsource_MISC
- https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2026-41242 x_refsource_MISC
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2459442 x_refsource_MISC
- https://github.com/protobufjs/protobuf.js/releases/tag/protobufjs-v7.5.5 x_refsource_MISC
- https://github.com/protobufjs/protobuf.js/releases/tag/protobufjs-v8.0.1 x_refsource_MISC
- https://github.com/protobufjs/protobuf.js/tree/v6.11.6 x_refsource_MISC
- https://security.access.redhat.com/data/csaf/v2/vex/2026/cve-2026-41242.json x_refsource_MISC