CVE-2026-68497: jackson-databind: unbounded numeric parse in Duration and XMLGregorianCalendar deserialization allows CPU denial of service
jackson-databind binds a JSON string to a javax.xml.datatype.Duration or javax.xml.datatype.XMLGregorianCalendar field by passing the raw string verbatim to DatatypeFactory.newDuration(value) or newXMLGregorianCalendar(value) in CoreXMLDeserializers.Std.deserialize. These deserializers are registered by default with no opt-in, so a plain ObjectMapper or JsonMapper with no polymorphic typing and no special configuration reaches this path. The XML Schema lexical grammar permits numeric components of arbitrary length, which the JDK materializes through the native BigInteger(String) and BigDecimal(String) constructors, both quadratic in digit count. Because the digits sit inside a JSON string token rather than a JSON number token, jackson-core's StreamReadConstraints.maxNumberLength guard never applies; jackson's own NumberDeserializers call validateIntegerLength or validateFPLength before parsing a stringified number, but the XML datatype deserializer omits that pre-check. An unauthenticated attacker can therefore submit a single request of a few megabytes, such as a Duration value consisting of the letter P followed by several million digits and the letter Y, and force tens of seconds to several minutes of single-threaded CPU work; a handful of concurrent requests can saturate a server's worker threads. This affects com.fasterxml.jackson.core:jackson-databind from 2.0.0 before 2.18.10, from 2.19.0 before 2.21.6, and from 2.22.0 before 2.22.2, and tools.jackson.core:jackson-databind from 3.0.0 before 3.1.6 and from 3.2.0 before 3.2.2. Users should upgrade to 2.18.10, 2.21.6, 2.22.2, 3.1.6, or 3.2.2.
Affected Software
Remediation
Recommended actions to resolve this vulnerability, in priority order.
- Upgrade
Upgrade
com.fasterxml.jackson.core:jackson-databindto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 2.18.10 - Upgrade
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com.fasterxml.jackson.core:jackson-databindto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 2.21.6 - Upgrade
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com.fasterxml.jackson.core:jackson-databindto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 2.22.2 - Upgrade
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com.fasterxml.jackson.core:jackson-databindto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 3.1.6 - Upgrade
Upgrade
com.fasterxml.jackson.core:jackson-databindto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 3.2.2
Event History
Frequently Asked Questions
Which applications are exposed in practice?
Applications that deserialize untrusted JSON into javax.xml.datatype.Duration or javax.xml.datatype.XMLGregorianCalendar fields are exposed. The affected deserializers are registered by default, including when using a plain ObjectMapper or JsonMapper without polymorphic typing or special configuration.
What does an attacker need to send?
An unauthenticated attacker can submit a JSON string containing an XML Schema duration or calendar value with numeric components several million digits long. A Duration payload can consist of P, several million digits, and Y, causing expensive BigInteger or BigDecimal parsing and CPU exhaustion.
Will jackson-core's maxNumberLength setting prevent this payload?
No. The oversized digits are inside a JSON string token rather than a JSON number token, so StreamReadConstraints.maxNumberLength does not apply.
Does avoiding polymorphic deserialization eliminate the issue?
No. The affected XML datatype deserializers are reachable with a plain ObjectMapper or JsonMapper and do not require polymorphic typing.