CVE-2023-50471 is a memory corruption vulnerability identified in the cJSON library version 1.7.16, specifically within the function cJSON_InsertItemInArray located in cJSON.c. The issue manifests as a segmentation violation, which occurs when the function improperly handles insertion of items into JSON arrays, leading to invalid memory access. This can cause the affected application to crash or behave unpredictably. While no exploits have been reported in the wild, the vulnerability presents a risk of denial of service and could potentially be leveraged for more advanced attacks such as remote code execution if combined with other vulnerabilities or attacker-controlled input. cJSON is a widely used lightweight JSON parsing and manipulation library embedded in numerous applications, including IoT devices, embedded systems, and various software products. The lack of a CVSS score indicates that the vulnerability is newly disclosed and not yet fully assessed. The absence of patch links suggests that a fix may still be pending or in development. The vulnerability does not require authentication or user interaction to trigger if the attacker can supply crafted JSON input to the vulnerable function, increasing its risk profile. The segmentation fault indicates a failure in memory safety, which is critical in C-based libraries. Organizations using cJSON 1.7.16 should consider this a serious issue requiring prompt attention to avoid application instability and potential exploitation.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2023-50471 can be significant, especially for those relying on embedded systems, IoT devices, or industrial control systems that incorporate cJSON for JSON processing. A segmentation violation can lead to application crashes, resulting in denial of service conditions that disrupt business operations or critical infrastructure. In sectors such as manufacturing, automotive, telecommunications, and smart city deployments, where embedded devices are prevalent, this vulnerability could degrade system reliability and availability. Additionally, if attackers can supply malicious JSON data to vulnerable endpoints, they may cause repeated crashes or potentially escalate attacks by exploiting memory corruption. This can affect confidentiality and integrity if combined with other vulnerabilities. The lack of known exploits currently reduces immediate risk, but the widespread use of cJSON means the attack surface is broad. European organizations with stringent uptime and security requirements must address this vulnerability promptly to maintain operational continuity and compliance with cybersecurity regulations such as NIS2.

1. Inventory all software and devices using cJSON version 1.7.16 to identify affected systems. 2. Monitor official cJSON repositories and security advisories for patches or updated versions addressing CVE-2023-50471 and apply them immediately upon release. 3. If patches are not yet available, implement input validation and sanitization to restrict or verify JSON data before it reaches the vulnerable function, reducing the risk of triggering the segmentation fault. 4. Employ runtime protections such as memory safety tools (e.g., AddressSanitizer) during development and testing to detect and mitigate memory corruption issues. 5. For critical systems, consider isolating or sandboxing components that use cJSON to limit the impact of potential crashes. 6. Enhance monitoring and logging to detect abnormal application crashes or suspicious JSON input patterns that could indicate exploitation attempts. 7. Engage with vendors or developers of embedded and IoT devices to ensure timely updates and secure configurations. 8. Incorporate this vulnerability into incident response and vulnerability management workflows to ensure ongoing awareness and remediation.