CVE-2026-11822 Overview
CVE-2026-11822 is a memory corruption vulnerability in the SQLite FTS5 full-text search extension affecting versions before 3.53.2. The flaw allows attackers to cause process crashes, memory exhaustion, or arbitrary code execution by supplying a crafted database with malformed FTS5 page data. Exploitation requires a victim to execute an FTS5 MATCH query against the malicious database. The vulnerability is tracked under [CWE-122] Heap-based Buffer Overflow and impacts any application that opens untrusted SQLite databases with FTS5 enabled. SQLite addressed the issue in release 3.53.2.
Critical Impact
Attackers can achieve arbitrary code execution in the host process by inducing a heap buffer overflow through crafted FTS5 page data when a MATCH query is executed.
Affected Products
- SQLite versions before 3.53.2
- Applications embedding the SQLite FTS5 extension
- Software stacks that open untrusted SQLite databases and execute MATCH queries
Discovery Timeline
- 2026-06-09 - CVE-2026-11822 published to NVD
- 2026-06-10 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2026-11822
Vulnerability Analysis
The vulnerability resides in the FTS5 full-text search extension, which stores tokenized index data across leaf and continuation pages inside the SQLite database file. Two distinct memory safety defects exist in the page parsing logic. The first is an out-of-bounds read in fts5LeafSeek(), where a loop bound is derived from attacker-controlled data without sufficient validation. The second is a heap buffer overflow write in fts5ChunkIterate(), triggered by a crafted continuation page that causes an integer underflow during size calculations. When the underflowed value is used as a length argument for a copy or iteration operation, the routine writes past the bounds of an allocated heap buffer. Both issues are reachable when an FTS5 MATCH query executes against the malicious database. The EPSS score is 0.013% with a percentile of 2.375.
Root Cause
The root cause is insufficient validation of length and offset fields read from FTS5 index pages. The parsers in fts5LeafSeek() and fts5ChunkIterate() trust attacker-controlled values, allowing an integer underflow to propagate into subsequent heap operations and read/write boundaries.
Attack Vector
An attacker crafts an SQLite database containing malformed FTS5 page structures. The attacker delivers the database to a target application, for example as a downloaded file, an email attachment, or content rendered by a browser engine that uses SQLite. The vulnerability triggers when the application opens the database and executes an FTS5 MATCH query against it. Exploitation requires local access and user interaction. See the VulnCheck Advisory: SQLite FTS5 for additional technical details.
No verified public proof-of-concept code is available. Technical details are described in the SQLite Source Info 061febc and SQLite Source Info 4a5ad5 commit references.
Detection Methods for CVE-2026-11822
Indicators of Compromise
- Unexpected crashes or segmentation faults in processes that open SQLite databases, particularly when FTS5 MATCH queries execute.
- SQLite database files received from untrusted sources containing FTS5 virtual tables with anomalous page sizes or malformed leaf/continuation pages.
- Memory allocation spikes or out-of-memory errors in applications that embed SQLite immediately after loading a new database file.
Detection Strategies
- Inventory applications and libraries that statically or dynamically link SQLite, then verify each instance reports version 3.53.2 or later.
- Use file integrity monitoring on SQLite database files in shared or user-writable locations to flag introduction of untrusted .sqlite or .db files.
- Hunt process crash telemetry for repeated faults in modules containing fts5LeafSeek or fts5ChunkIterate symbols.
Monitoring Recommendations
- Aggregate crash and exception telemetry from endpoints into a central data lake and alert on clustered SQLite-related faults.
- Monitor file write events that drop SQLite databases into directories consumed by privileged or network-facing applications.
- Correlate database file arrival with subsequent process crashes within a short time window to surface exploitation attempts.
How to Mitigate CVE-2026-11822
Immediate Actions Required
- Upgrade SQLite to version 3.53.2 or later across all systems, applications, and embedded products.
- Rebuild and redistribute any in-house software that statically links an older SQLite amalgamation.
- Block ingestion of SQLite database files from untrusted sources until patched builds are deployed.
Patch Information
The vulnerability is fixed in SQLite 3.53.2. The corrective commits are documented in SQLite Release Log 3.53.2, SQLite Source Info 061febc, and SQLite Source Info 4a5ad5. Operating system vendors and application maintainers should incorporate the upstream fix into downstream builds.
Workarounds
- Disable the FTS5 extension at compile time by defining SQLITE_ENABLE_FTS5=0 if full-text search is not required.
- Refuse to execute MATCH queries against databases originating from untrusted sources.
- Validate database files in a sandboxed process before opening them in privileged contexts.
# Verify installed SQLite version
sqlite3 --version
# Build SQLite from source without FTS5 if upgrade is not yet possible
./configure --disable-fts5
make && sudo make install
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
