CVE-2026-41242: protobufjs protobuf.js · Code Injection
Affects protobufjs protobuf.jsSource CVE Database V5
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 9.4 Critical : upgrade to 8.0.1 or 7.5.5 as a priority.
Data as of 30 Oct 2026, 11:52 UTC
- EPSS
- 0.7% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 55% of CVEsExploit Prediction Scoring System: the likelihood attackers will use this flaw soon.
- Patch
- Available – fixed in 8.0.1, 7.5.5
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:H/SI:H/SA:HExploitation evidence
Disclosed: evidence found.
CVE published 18 Apr 2026
Detectable: no evidence on record.
No public nuclei template indexed
Weaponized: evidence found.
Public exploit code: GitHub proofs of concept
Exploited in the wildExploited: no evidence on record.
Not in CISA KEV and no source reports exploitation
Observed by OffSeq MirageSeen by Mirage: no evidence on record.
No attack traffic recorded by OffSeq Mirage sensors
A missing step is not evidence of safety. Sources: cve.org (opens in a new tab), GitHub proofs of concept, the Metasploit, Exploit-DB and nuclei-templates index as of 30 Oct 2026.
What to do
Upgrade protobuf.js to 8.0.1 or 7.5.5; protobufjs to 7.5.5.
Affected software
| Product | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
| protobufjsprotobuf.js | Affected
| Fixed in
|
| protobufjsprotobuf.js | Affected
| Fixed in
|
npmprotobufjspkg:npm/protobufjsOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Check your own hosts for these packages with threat-finder (opens in a new tab), our free open-source scanner.
AI-suggested
Upgrade protobuf.js to version 7.5.5 or later, as these versions include patches that fix the code injection vulnerability. Since the vendor advisory and CVE description confirm the fix in 7.5.5 and 8.0.1, applying these updates is the recommended remediation. No additional mitigations or temporary fixes are documented in the vendor advisory.
Description
protobufjs compiles protobuf definitions into JavaScript (JS) functions. In versions prior to 8.0.1 and 7.5.5, 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 and 7.5.5 patch the issue.
References
- github.com/protobufjs/protobuf.js/security/advisories/GHSA-xq3m-2v4x-88gg (opens in a new tab)
- github.com/protobufjs/protobuf.js/commit/535df444ac060243722ac5d672db205e5c531d75 (opens in a new tab)
- github.com/protobufjs/protobuf.js/commit/ff7b2afef8754837cc6dc64c864cd111ab477956 (opens in a new tab)
- github.com/protobufjs/protobuf.js/releases/tag/protobufjs-v7.5.5 (opens in a new tab)
- github.com/protobufjs/protobuf.js/releases/tag/protobufjs-v8.0.1 (opens in a new tab)
- access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2026-41242 (opens in a new tab)
- bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2459442 (opens in a new tab)
- security.access.redhat.com/data/csaf/v2/vex/2026/cve-2026-41242.json (opens in a new tab)
- access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:21338 (opens in a new tab)
- access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:26234 (opens in a new tab)
- access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:24977 (opens in a new tab)
- access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:37275 (opens in a new tab)
- access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:62260 (opens in a new tab)