CVE-2026-119378 in SQLite
Summary
by MITRE • 10/30/2026
SQLite before 3.54.0 contains a use-after-free vulnerability in the R-Tree extension that allows attackers to make applications use freed heap memory by manipulating the %_node shadow table. Attackers can supply a database declaring %_node WITHOUT ROWID or with a RAISE(IGNORE) trigger so nodeWrite() hashes nodes as 0, crashing the process after node splits.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/30/2026
The vulnerability identified in SQLite versions prior to 3.54.0 represents a critical memory safety flaw within the R-Tree extension module, specifically classified under CWE-416: Use After Free. This type of vulnerability occurs when software continues to use a pointer after it has been freed, leading to undefined behavior that can result in application crashes, data corruption, or potentially arbitrary code execution depending on how the memory is subsequently utilized and what data resides at that location. In this specific instance, the flaw is triggered through manipulation of the internal shadow tables used by the R-Tree index structure, which are essential for maintaining spatial indexing efficiency within SQLite databases.
The technical mechanism behind this exploitation involves the interaction between node management functions and trigger logic during database operations. An attacker can craft a malicious database file that declares the %_node table with specific attributes such as WITHOUT ROWID or includes triggers utilizing RAISE(IGNORE). These configurations alter the standard execution path of the nodeWrite function, causing it to hash nodes incorrectly by treating them as zero. This incorrect hashing leads to a state where memory blocks allocated for node data are freed prematurely while still being referenced by other parts of the R-Tree structure. When subsequent operations attempt to access these nodes, particularly during complex structural changes like node splits, the application attempts to dereference invalid or already released heap memory addresses.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is primarily characterized by denial of service through process termination. Because SQLite applications rely on stable memory management for handling large datasets and spatial queries, triggering a use-after-free condition typically results in immediate segmentation faults or core dumps. For services that utilize SQLite as an embedded database engine to handle user-generated content or external data imports, this vulnerability allows remote attackers who can supply crafted SQL statements or database files to crash the hosting application. While the primary observed effect is stability degradation and service interruption, use-after-free vulnerabilities are historically significant in security research because they provide a pathway for memory corruption that could potentially be leveraged for more severe exploits if specific heap layout conditions are met, although no such exploitation chain has been publicly documented for this specific SQLite flaw as of its disclosure.
Mitigation strategies focus on immediate version upgrades and input validation practices. The most effective remediation is to upgrade the SQLite library to version 3.54.0 or later, where the internal logic governing node hashing and memory management in the R-Tree extension has been corrected to prevent premature deallocation of active nodes. For environments where upgrading immediately is not feasible, defensive coding practices should be implemented to strictly validate database schemas before loading them into SQLite instances. This includes rejecting databases that define %_node tables with unexpected attributes like WITHOUT ROWID or containing triggers with RAISE(IGNORE) clauses if such configurations are outside the expected operational profile of the application. Additionally, enabling Address Sanitizer (ASan) during development and testing phases can help detect similar memory safety issues early in the software lifecycle before they reach production environments.
From a threat intelligence perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK techniques related to resource hijacking or denial of service via exploitation of common components. It highlights the risk associated with embedding widely used open-source libraries without rigorous security auditing of their edge-case handling capabilities. Organizations relying on SQLite for spatial data management should prioritize patching efforts and review any custom database creation scripts that interact directly with R-Tree shadow tables to ensure they do not inadvertently trigger these malformed states. Continuous monitoring for abnormal process terminations or memory usage spikes in applications using older SQLite versions can serve as an indicator of potential exploitation attempts, allowing security teams to respond proactively before widespread impact occurs.