# CVE-2026-119371: SQLite stack exhaustion in common table expression nesting

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-119371-sqlite-before-3-54-0-contains-a-stack-exhaustion-vulnerability  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2026-10-30. Updated: 2026-10-30  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2026-119371 · Severity: medium · CVSS 5.5 · Published 2026-10-30

SQLite is a widely-used lightweight SQL database engine embedded in mobile phones, computers, and countless applications. A vulnerability in versions before 3.54.0 allows attackers to supply deeply nested database queries (common table expressions) that bypass safety limits and crash the application, causing a denial of service. An attacker can trigger this through plain SQL or by planting a malicious database file.

Technologies: [Sqlite](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/sqlite-sqlite). Vendors: [SQLite](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/sqlite).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2026-119371 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-119371 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2026-119371?** Medium severity, with a CVSS score of 5.5, published 30 October 2026.

**Which products and versions are affected?** Sqlite before 3.54.0.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2026-119371?** Yes: fixed in SQLite 3.54.0. Junglewise finds every place you run it, drafts the upgrade and applies it once you approve.

**How is CVE-2026-119371 attacked?** It is attacked over the network or with local access, in a software library.

**Am I affected by CVE-2026-119371?** Check whether you run Sqlite at an affected version. Junglewise does that check for you around the clock: connect your code, cloud and domains, and it matches new vulnerabilities like this one against what you actually run and tells you when one reaches you.

## How to fix

- Fixed in SQLite 3.54.0

## Technical details

The vulnerability is a stack exhaustion flaw in SQLite's expression nesting limit enforcement. Common table expressions (CTEs) introduced via a WITH clause are not counted against the SQLITE_LIMIT_EXPR_DEPTH limit, allowing an attacker to chain tens of thousands of CTEs that trigger unbounded recursion in the selectExpander() function, exhausting the call stack and crashing the process.

## Affected products

- SQLite SQLite before 3.54.0

## Timeline

- 2026-10-30: disclosed

## References

- [https://sqlite.org/](https://sqlite.org/)
- [https://abraxaslabs.tech/research/sqlite-cte-nest](https://abraxaslabs.tech/research/sqlite-cte-nest)

## Related threats

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