Apache Thrift Lua bindings: Resource exhaustion via unbounded JSON parsing
Summary
The Lua bindings of Apache Thrift, specifically the TJsonProtocol string and number readers, do not limit input size and have quadratic processing behavior. An attacker who can send crafted JSON-encoded Thrift messages to a vulnerable Lua service can exhaust CPU and memory, causing slowdowns or crashes. Exploitation requires that a Lua service using the JSON protocol accepts untrusted network input.
Affected
- Apache Thrift versions before 0.25.0 (Lua bindings)
- Default configuration: unaffected (per Apache CVE record)
Fixed in
- Upgrade to Apache Thrift 0.25.0
- Distribution packages: check your distro tracker (e.g. Red Hat RHSA-2026:74369 lists 0.25.0-0.1.hum1; openSUSE OPENSUSE-SU-2026:12051-1 lists libthrift 0.25.0-1.1)
Workaround
- Unknown. No vendor-documented interim mitigation was found.
- Restricting input size at the service edge may reduce exposure (unverified suggestion, not vendor guidance).
Exploitation
- Exploited in the wild: not known; not listed in CISA KEV in the sources checked.
- Public proof of concept: none confirmed at time of research.
- CISA SSVC: exploitation none, automatable no, technical impact partial.
Our recommendation
- Check whether Thrift Lua is in use, including inside third-party software bundles.
- If a Lua service using Thrift's JSON protocol is reachable from untrusted networks, upgrade to 0.25.0 or the distribution backport at the next maintenance window.
- Until patched, limit input size and rate at the service edge and monitor for CPU or memory spikes.
Public exploits
PoC-in-GitHub, Metasploit and Exploit-DB list nothing for this CVE.
Research sources
- Apache mailing list thread 1 lists.apache.org
- Apache mailing list thread 2 lists.apache.org
- OSV: BIT-thrift-2026-94655 osv.dev
- Red Hat RHSA-2026:74369 via Vulners vulners.com
- Vulners CVE record vulners.com
- OSV: AZL-106617 (Azure Linux) osv.dev
- OpenCVE CVE-2026-94655 app.opencve.io
- TheHackerWire CVE-2026-94655 www.thehackerwire.com
Researched and written up in English and German by an AI (Claude by Anthropic) based on NVD, CISA, EPSS and the sources listed. The vendor information is authoritative. Researched on 1 Nov 2026, 17:12.
Original description (NVD)
Allocation of resources without limits or throttling, Inefficient Algorithmic Complexity vulnerability in Apache Thrift Lua bindings. This issue affects Apache Thrift: before 0.25.0. Users are recommended to upgrade to version 0.25.0, which fixes the issue.
Sources
The tracker combines official, freely usable data sources – updated continuously:
- NVD (NIST) – CVEs, rating (CVSS), affected products
- CISA KEV – vulnerabilities confirmed by CISA as actively exploited
- CISA Vulnrichment – CISA assessment (SSVC) in the official CVE record
- FIRST EPSS – probability of exploitation
- Microsoft MSRC – Patch Tuesday: vulnerabilities, severity, updates
- PoC-in-GitHub – public proof-of-concept repositories
- Metasploit (Rapid7) – modules of the Metasploit Framework
- Exploit-DB (OffSec) – archive of public exploits (links only)
- Patch days: official vendor pages (linked per vendor) (Vendor patch days)
This product uses data from the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. EPSS data © FIRST.org.
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