# CVE-2026-63760: SurrealDB uncontrolled recursion in JSON parser

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-63760-surrealdb-uncontrolled-recursion-in-json-parser  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2026-07-20. Updated: 2026-07-20  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2026-63760 · Severity: high · CVSS 7.5 · Published 2026-07-20

SurrealDB is a multi-model cloud database used for managing large-scale data applications. A vulnerability in its data processing component allows an unauthenticated attacker to crash the database server by sending a specially crafted message. This results in a complete service outage, preventing legitimate users and applications from accessing or storing data.

Technologies: [surrealdb (crates.io)](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/surrealdb). Vendors: [crates.io](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/crates-io).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2026-63760 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-63760 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2026-63760?** High severity, with a CVSS score of 7.5, published 20 July 2026.

**Which products and versions are affected?** surrealdb (crates.io) SEMVER:introduced=0,fixed=3.1.0.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2026-63760?** Yes. surrealdb (crates.io): upgrade to 3.1.0 or later. Junglewise finds every place you run it, drafts the upgrade and applies it once you approve.

**How is CVE-2026-63760 attacked?** It is attacked over the network, in a hosted service.

**Am I affected by CVE-2026-63760?** Check whether you run surrealdb (crates.io) 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

- surrealdb (crates.io): upgrade to 3.1.0 or later

  ```sh
  cargo update -p surrealdb
  ```


## Technical details

A denial-of-service vulnerability exists in SurrealDB's value and JSON parser due to uncontrolled recursion (CWE-674). While the expression parser previously enforced recursion limits, the `parse_value` and `parse_json` functions failed to do so when encountering nested tokens such as braces, brackets, or parentheses. An unauthenticated remote attacker can exploit this by sending a single, deeply nested JSON payload to the WebSocket `/rpc` endpoint. This causes the server to exhaust its memory or stack space, leading to a process crash. This issue is an incomplete fix for a previous vulnerability (GHSA-6r8p-hpg7-825g) and is resolved in version 3.1.0.

## Affected products

- SurrealDB SurrealDB < 3.1.0

## Identifiers

- CVE-2026-63760
- GHSA-q729-696q-g9pq

## Timeline

- 2026-05-27: advisory: Initial GHSA advisory published
- 2026-07-20: disclosed: CVE-2026-63760 published

## References

- [https://github.com/surrealdb/surrealdb/security/advisories/GHSA-q729-696q-g9pq](https://github.com/surrealdb/surrealdb/security/advisories/GHSA-q729-696q-g9pq)
- [https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/surrealdb-before-denial-of-service-via-json-parser](https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/surrealdb-before-denial-of-service-via-json-parser)

## Related threats

- [SurrealDB use-after-free in KV backends via affinitypool spawn_local](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-121417-surrealdb-before-3-3-0-contains-a-use-after-free-vulnerability)
- [SurrealDB JSON parser denial of service via uncontrolled recursion](https://junglewise.ai/threats/surrealdb-json-parser-denial-of-service-via-uncontrolled-recursion-3037f8a0)
- [SurrealDB ES512 algorithm silently downgraded to ES384](https://junglewise.ai/threats/surrealdb-es512-algorithm-silently-downgraded-to-es384-f0af29b8)
- [SurrealDB permission bypass via WHERE clause evaluation](https://junglewise.ai/threats/surrealdb-permission-bypass-via-where-clause-evaluation-afa6f001)
- [SurrealDB authorization bypass in KILL statement](https://junglewise.ai/threats/surrealdb-authorization-bypass-in-kill-statement-fc230d0f)