Code Injection via Type Field in Protobuf.js <8.0.1
CVE-2026-41242 Published on April 18, 2026

protobufjs has an arbitrary code execution issue
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.

NVD

Vulnerability Analysis

CVE-2026-41242 is exploitable with network access, and requires small amount of user privileges. This vulnerability is considered to have a low attack complexity. An automatable proof of concept (POC) exploit exists. The potential impact of an exploit of this vulnerability is considered to be very high.

Attack Vector:
NETWORK
Attack Complexity:
LOW
Privileges Required:
LOW
User Interaction:
NONE
Scope:
UNCHANGED
Confidentiality Impact:
HIGH
Integrity Impact:
HIGH
Availability Impact:
HIGH

Weakness Type

What is a Code Injection Vulnerability?

The software constructs all or part of a code segment using externally-influenced input from an upstream component, but it does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes special elements that could modify the syntax or behavior of the intended code segment.

CVE-2026-41242 has been classified to as a Code Injection vulnerability or weakness.


Products Associated with CVE-2026-41242

Want to know whenever a new CVE is published for Red Hat products? stack.watch will email you.

Red Hat Rhdh
 
Red Hat Openshift Ai
 
Red Hat Openshift Pipelines
 
Red Hat Apicurio Registry
 
Red Hat Podman Desktop
 
Red Hat Openshift
 
Red Hat Ansible Portal
 
Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL)
 
Red Hat Hummingbird
 
Red Hat Cryostat
 
Red Hat Service Mesh
 
Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform
 
Red Hat Ceph Storage
 
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Ai
 
Red Hat Openshift Data Foundation
 

Affected Versions

protobufjs protobuf.js: Red Hat Developer Hub 1.8: Red Hat Developer Hub 1.9: Red Hat OpenShift AI 2.25: Red Hat OpenShift Pipelines: Red Hat build of Apicurio Registry 3: Red Hat Build of Podman Desktop: Red Hat Developer Hub: Red Hat OpenShift AI (RHOAI): Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4: Red Hat Self-service automation portal 2: Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8: Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9: Red Hat Hardened Images: Red Hat Cryostat 4: Red Hat OpenShift Service Mesh 3: Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform 2: Red Hat Ceph Storage 9: Red Hat Enterprise Linux AI (RHEL AI) 3: Red Hat Openshift Data Foundation 4:

Exploit Probability

EPSS
0.58%
Percentile
42.86%

EPSS (Exploit Prediction Scoring System) scores estimate the probability that a vulnerability will be exploited in the wild within the next 30 days. The percentile shows you how this score compares to all other vulnerabilities.