Read CBOR containers and tags without recursing per nesting level

get_cbor_array() and get_cbor_object() read their elements by calling back
into the value reader, which called them again for a nested container, and a
tag was handled by reading the tagged value the same way. All three cost
native stack, and all three cost a single byte to encode: 0x9F opens an
indefinite-length array, 0x81 a one-element array, and 0xC2 is a tag. Half a
million of any of them crashes the process before the input runs out (#5104).

Apply the shape the MessagePack reader already uses: the open containers live
on the heap stack, parse_cbor_value() reads a single value and only opens a
container rather than reading it to its end, and parse_cbor_internal() loops,
resuming the innermost container after each element.

Two things are specific to CBOR. An indefinite-length container ends at a
break marker rather than at a count, and testing for that marker consumes a
byte which is the first byte of the next element when it is not one; the
frame's count is npos for those, and the driver tracks whether the next value
starts at a fresh byte. And a tag is not a value of its own: instead of
reading the tagged value by recursing, the value reader reports that a tag was
read and the driver reads on, so a chain of tags costs no stack at all.

The switch that decodes a value is unchanged apart from the twelve container
cases and the two tag sites. Verified against the previous commit over
definite and indefinite arrays and maps, all four counted forms, empty
containers, nesting of the forms inside each other, truncated inputs, and all
three tag handlers: identical values, error codes, messages and byte offsets.
500,000 levels of each of the three vectors now report parse_error.110 instead
of crashing, and a well-formed 200,000-level value is read to completion.

On performance: the driver does per element what a counted loop used to do
per container, and CBOR pays for it more than MessagePack because the value
reader also has to be told whether to fetch a byte. Parsing 60,000 small
objects and one array of a million integers is 3 to 4 % slower than the
recursive reader, measured over five alternating runs. Against develop the
same two inputs are about 44 % faster, because the entry point no longer
copies the value it parsed; the earlier commit in this series is what pays
for that.

Signed-off-by: Niels Lohmann <mail@nlohmann.me>

include/nlohmann/detail/input/binary_reader.hpp

@@ -130,6 +130,7 @@ class binary_reader
                    const cbor_tag_handler_t tag_handler = cbor_tag_handler_t::error)
     {
         sax = sax_;
+        container_stack.clear();
         bool result = false;
 
         switch (format)
@@ -179,6 +180,69 @@ class binary_reader
     }
 
   private:
+    ////////////////////////
+    // nested containers  //
+    ////////////////////////
+
+    /*!
+    @brief a container that has been opened and not closed yet
+
+    The binary readers do not call themselves once per nesting level. Like
+    @ref parser::sax_parse_internal, which does the same for JSON text, they
+    keep the containers they are inside of on a heap-allocated stack, so that
+    the native call stack does not grow with the nesting depth of the input
+    and a deeply nested value is bounded by memory rather than by the stack
+    (see #5104).
+
+    The members are ordered by decreasing alignment, which is the ordering that
+    keeps a struct from growing as members are added to it.
+    */
+    struct container_frame
+    {
+        container_frame(const std::size_t remaining_, const bool is_object_) noexcept
+            : remaining(remaining_), is_object(is_object_) {}
+
+        /// number of elements that have not been read yet
+        std::size_t remaining;
+        /// whether to close this container with end_object() or end_array()
+        bool is_object;
+    };
+
+    /*!
+    @brief open a nested array or object
+
+    Emits the SAX start event and records the container. This is the only
+    place the binary readers start a container, so a check that rejects one
+    can be made here and is then guaranteed to run before the start event.
+
+    @param[in] is_object  whether an object (true) or an array (false) begins
+    @param[in] len        number of elements the container declares
+
+    @return whether the SAX parser accepted the start event
+    */
+    bool enter_container(const bool is_object, const std::size_t len)
+    {
+        if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(is_object ? !sax->start_object(len) : !sax->start_array(len)))
+        {
+            return false;
+        }
+
+        container_stack.emplace_back(len, is_object);
+        return true;
+    }
+
+    /// @copydoc enter_container
+    bool enter_array(const std::size_t len)
+    {
+        return enter_container(/*is_object*/false, len);
+    }
+
+    /// @copydoc enter_container
+    bool enter_object(const std::size_t len)
+    {
+        return enter_container(/*is_object*/true, len);
+    }
+
     //////////
     // BSON //
     //////////
@@ -511,9 +575,12 @@ class binary_reader
 
     @return whether a valid CBOR value was passed to the SAX parser
     */
-    bool parse_cbor_internal(const bool get_char,
-                             const cbor_tag_handler_t tag_handler)
+    bool parse_cbor_value(const bool get_char,
+                          const cbor_tag_handler_t tag_handler,
+                          bool& tag_pending)
     {
+        tag_pending = false;
+
         switch (get_char ? get() : current)
         {
             // EOF
@@ -705,37 +772,36 @@ class binary_reader
             case 0x95:
             case 0x96:
             case 0x97:
-                return get_cbor_array(
-                           conditional_static_cast<std::size_t>(static_cast<unsigned int>(current) & 0x1Fu), tag_handler);
+                return enter_array(conditional_static_cast<std::size_t>(static_cast<unsigned int>(current) & 0x1Fu));
 
             case 0x98: // array (one-byte uint8_t for n follows)
             {
                 std::uint8_t len{};
-                return get_number(input_format_t::cbor, len) && get_cbor_array(static_cast<std::size_t>(len), tag_handler);
+                return get_number(input_format_t::cbor, len) && enter_array(static_cast<std::size_t>(len));
             }
 
             case 0x99: // array (two-byte uint16_t for n follow)
             {
                 std::uint16_t len{};
-                return get_number(input_format_t::cbor, len) && get_cbor_array(static_cast<std::size_t>(len), tag_handler);
+                return get_number(input_format_t::cbor, len) && enter_array(static_cast<std::size_t>(len));
             }
 
             case 0x9A: // array (four-byte uint32_t for n follow)
             {
                 std::uint32_t len{};
                 std::size_t size{};
-                return get_number(input_format_t::cbor, len) && get_cbor_container_size(len, size, "array") && get_cbor_array(size, tag_handler);
+                return get_number(input_format_t::cbor, len) && get_cbor_container_size(len, size, "array") && enter_array(size);
             }
 
             case 0x9B: // array (eight-byte uint64_t for n follow)
             {
                 std::uint64_t len{};
                 std::size_t size{};
-                return get_number(input_format_t::cbor, len) && get_cbor_container_size(len, size, "array") && get_cbor_array(size, tag_handler);
+                return get_number(input_format_t::cbor, len) && get_cbor_container_size(len, size, "array") && enter_array(size);
             }
 
             case 0x9F: // array (indefinite length)
-                return get_cbor_array(detail::unknown_size(), tag_handler);
+                return enter_array(detail::unknown_size());
 
             // map (0x00..0x17 pairs of data items follow)
             case 0xA0:
@@ -762,36 +828,36 @@ class binary_reader
             case 0xB5:
             case 0xB6:
             case 0xB7:
-                return get_cbor_object(conditional_static_cast<std::size_t>(static_cast<unsigned int>(current) & 0x1Fu), tag_handler);
+                return enter_object(conditional_static_cast<std::size_t>(static_cast<unsigned int>(current) & 0x1Fu));
 
             case 0xB8: // map (one-byte uint8_t for n follows)
             {
                 std::uint8_t len{};
-                return get_number(input_format_t::cbor, len) && get_cbor_object(static_cast<std::size_t>(len), tag_handler);
+                return get_number(input_format_t::cbor, len) && enter_object(static_cast<std::size_t>(len));
             }
 
             case 0xB9: // map (two-byte uint16_t for n follow)
             {
                 std::uint16_t len{};
-                return get_number(input_format_t::cbor, len) && get_cbor_object(static_cast<std::size_t>(len), tag_handler);
+                return get_number(input_format_t::cbor, len) && enter_object(static_cast<std::size_t>(len));
             }
 
             case 0xBA: // map (four-byte uint32_t for n follow)
             {
                 std::uint32_t len{};
                 std::size_t size{};
-                return get_number(input_format_t::cbor, len) && get_cbor_container_size(len, size, "map") && get_cbor_object(size, tag_handler);
+                return get_number(input_format_t::cbor, len) && get_cbor_container_size(len, size, "map") && enter_object(size);
             }
 
             case 0xBB: // map (eight-byte uint64_t for n follow)
             {
                 std::uint64_t len{};
                 std::size_t size{};
-                return get_number(input_format_t::cbor, len) && get_cbor_container_size(len, size, "map") && get_cbor_object(size, tag_handler);
+                return get_number(input_format_t::cbor, len) && get_cbor_container_size(len, size, "map") && enter_object(size);
             }
 
             case 0xBF: // map (indefinite length)
-                return get_cbor_object(detail::unknown_size(), tag_handler);
+                return enter_object(detail::unknown_size());
 
             case 0xC0: // tagged item
             case 0xC1:
@@ -875,7 +941,10 @@ class binary_reader
                             default:
                                 break;
                         }
-                        return parse_cbor_internal(true, tag_handler);
+                        // the tagged value follows; it is read by the loop in
+                        // parse_cbor_internal() rather than by recursing here
+                        tag_pending = true;
+                        return true;
                     }
 
                     case cbor_tag_handler_t::store:
@@ -925,7 +994,11 @@ class binary_reader
                                 break;
                             }
                             default:
-                                return parse_cbor_internal(true, tag_handler);
+                            {
+                                // as above, the tagged value is read by the caller
+                                tag_pending = true;
+                                return true;
+                            }
                         }
                         get();
                         return get_cbor_binary(b) && sax->binary(b);
@@ -1323,96 +1396,110 @@ class binary_reader
     }
 
     /*!
-    @param[in] len  the length of the array or detail::unknown_size() for an
-                    array of indefinite size
+    @brief read a CBOR value and everything nested inside it
+
+    Reads values until the one that was begun here is complete, resuming the
+    enclosing container after each element, so that the nesting depth of the
+    input costs heap rather than native stack (see #5104).
+
+    @param[in] get_char  whether a new character should be retrieved from the
+                         input (true) or whether the last read character
+                         @a current should be considered instead
     @param[in] tag_handler how CBOR tags should be treated
-    @return whether array creation completed
+
+    @return whether reading the value succeeded
     */
-    bool get_cbor_array(const std::size_t len,
+    bool parse_cbor_internal(const bool get_char,
                              const cbor_tag_handler_t tag_handler)
     {
-        if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(!sax->start_array(len)))
-        {
-            return false;
-        }
+        // whether the next value starts at a fresh byte or at the one already
+        // read into `current`
+        bool fetch = get_char;
 
-        if (len != detail::unknown_size())
-        {
-            for (std::size_t i = 0; i < len; ++i)
-            {
-                if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(!parse_cbor_internal(true, tag_handler)))
-                {
-                    return false;
-                }
-            }
-        }
-        else
-        {
-            while (get() != 0xFF)
-            {
-                if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(!parse_cbor_internal(false, tag_handler)))
-                {
-                    return false;
-                }
-            }
-        }
-
-        return sax->end_array();
-    }
-
-    /*!
-    @param[in] len  the length of the object or detail::unknown_size() for an
-                    object of indefinite size
-    @param[in] tag_handler how CBOR tags should be treated
-    @return whether object creation completed
-    */
-    bool get_cbor_object(const std::size_t len,
-                         const cbor_tag_handler_t tag_handler)
-    {
-        if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(!sax->start_object(len)))
-        {
-            return false;
-        }
-
-        if (len != 0)
-        {
+        // the key currently being read; hoisted out of the loop so that its
+        // capacity is reused across elements and across nesting levels
         string_t key;
-            if (len != detail::unknown_size())
+
+        while (true)
         {
-                for (std::size_t i = 0; i < len; ++i)
+            if (!container_stack.empty())
+            {
+                // the reference is not held across parse_cbor_value() below,
+                // which can push onto the stack and reallocate it
+                container_frame& top = container_stack.back();
+                bool at_end = false;
+
+                if (top.remaining != npos)
+                {
+                    // definite length: the container ends once its elements
+                    // have been read
+                    at_end = (top.remaining == 0);
+                    if (!at_end)
+                    {
+                        // claim the element about to be read
+                        --top.remaining;
+                        if (top.is_object)
                         {
                             get();
-                    if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(!get_cbor_string(key) || !sax->key(key)))
-                    {
-                        return false;
                         }
-
-                    if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(!parse_cbor_internal(true, tag_handler)))
-                    {
-                        return false;
-                    }
-                    key.clear();
                     }
+                    fetch = true;
                 }
                 else
                 {
-                while (get() != 0xFF)
+                    // indefinite length: the container ends at a break marker.
+                    // Testing for it consumes a byte, which is the first byte
+                    // of the next element when it is not one.
+                    at_end = (get() == 0xFF);
+                    fetch = top.is_object;
+                }
+
+                if (at_end)
                 {
+                    const bool is_object = top.is_object;
+                    container_stack.pop_back();
+                    if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(is_object ? !sax->end_object() : !sax->end_array()))
+                    {
+                        return false;
+                    }
+                    // the value begun here is complete once its container is
+                    if (container_stack.empty())
+                    {
+                        return true;
+                    }
+                    continue;
+                }
+
+                if (top.is_object)
+                {
+                    key.clear();
                     if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(!get_cbor_string(key) || !sax->key(key)))
                     {
                         return false;
                     }
+                    fetch = true;
+                }
+            }
 
-                    if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(!parse_cbor_internal(true, tag_handler)))
+            // a tag is not a value of its own: read on until the tagged value
+            bool tag_pending = false;
+            do
+            {
+                if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(!parse_cbor_value(fetch, tag_handler, tag_pending)))
                 {
                     return false;
                 }
-                    key.clear();
-                }
-            }
+                fetch = true;
             }
+            while (tag_pending);
 
-        return sax->end_object();
+            // a value that opened a container left it on the stack; one that
+            // did not, and that was not inside a container, was the whole value
+            if (container_stack.empty())
+            {
+                return true;
+            }
+        }
     }
 
     /////////////
@@ -1422,7 +1509,17 @@ class binary_reader
     /*!
     @return whether a valid MessagePack value was passed to the SAX parser
     */
-    bool parse_msgpack_internal()
+    /*!
+    @brief read one MessagePack value
+
+    Reads a single value and passes it to the SAX parser. A value that begins
+    a container is not read to its end: the container is opened with
+    @ref enter_container and its elements are read by
+    @ref parse_msgpack_internal, so that nesting does not consume native stack.
+
+    @return whether reading the value succeeded
+    */
+    bool parse_msgpack_value()
     {
         switch (get())
         {
@@ -1578,7 +1675,7 @@ class binary_reader
             case 0x8D:
             case 0x8E:
             case 0x8F:
-                return get_msgpack_object(conditional_static_cast<std::size_t>(static_cast<unsigned int>(current) & 0x0Fu));
+                return enter_object(conditional_static_cast<std::size_t>(static_cast<unsigned int>(current) & 0x0Fu));
 
             // fixarray
             case 0x90:
@@ -1597,7 +1694,7 @@ class binary_reader
             case 0x9D:
             case 0x9E:
             case 0x9F:
-                return get_msgpack_array(conditional_static_cast<std::size_t>(static_cast<unsigned int>(current) & 0x0Fu));
+                return enter_array(conditional_static_cast<std::size_t>(static_cast<unsigned int>(current) & 0x0Fu));
 
             // fixstr
             case 0xA0:
@@ -1728,25 +1825,25 @@ class binary_reader
             case 0xDC: // array 16
             {
                 std::uint16_t len{};
-                return get_number(input_format_t::msgpack, len) && get_msgpack_array(static_cast<std::size_t>(len));
+                return get_number(input_format_t::msgpack, len) && enter_array(static_cast<std::size_t>(len));
             }
 
             case 0xDD: // array 32
             {
                 std::uint32_t len{};
-                return get_number(input_format_t::msgpack, len) && get_msgpack_array(conditional_static_cast<std::size_t>(len));
+                return get_number(input_format_t::msgpack, len) && enter_array(conditional_static_cast<std::size_t>(len));
             }
 
             case 0xDE: // map 16
             {
                 std::uint16_t len{};
-                return get_number(input_format_t::msgpack, len) && get_msgpack_object(static_cast<std::size_t>(len));
+                return get_number(input_format_t::msgpack, len) && enter_object(static_cast<std::size_t>(len));
             }
 
             case 0xDF: // map 32
             {
                 std::uint32_t len{};
-                return get_number(input_format_t::msgpack, len) && get_msgpack_object(conditional_static_cast<std::size_t>(len));
+                return get_number(input_format_t::msgpack, len) && enter_object(conditional_static_cast<std::size_t>(len));
             }
 
             // negative fixint
@@ -1994,55 +2091,69 @@ class binary_reader
     }
 
     /*!
-    @param[in] len  the length of the array
-    @return whether array creation completed
+    @brief read a MessagePack value and everything nested inside it
+
+    Reads values until the one that was begun here is complete, resuming the
+    enclosing container each time an element ends, so that the nesting depth
+    of the input costs heap rather than native stack (see #5104).
+
+    @return whether reading the value succeeded
     */
-    bool get_msgpack_array(const std::size_t len)
+    bool parse_msgpack_internal()
     {
-        if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(!sax->start_array(len)))
-        {
-            return false;
-        }
-
-        for (std::size_t i = 0; i < len; ++i)
-        {
-            if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(!parse_msgpack_internal()))
-            {
-                return false;
-            }
-        }
-
-        return sax->end_array();
-    }
-
-    /*!
-    @param[in] len  the length of the object
-    @return whether object creation completed
-    */
-    bool get_msgpack_object(const std::size_t len)
-    {
-        if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(!sax->start_object(len)))
-        {
-            return false;
-        }
-
+        // the key currently being read; hoisted out of the loop so that its
+        // capacity is reused across elements and across nesting levels
         string_t key;
-        for (std::size_t i = 0; i < len; ++i)
+
+        while (true)
+        {
+            if (!container_stack.empty())
+            {
+                // copied out before anything can push onto the stack and
+                // invalidate a reference into it
+                const bool is_object = container_stack.back().is_object;
+
+                if (container_stack.back().remaining == 0)
+                {
+                    container_stack.pop_back();
+                    if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(is_object ? !sax->end_object() : !sax->end_array()))
+                    {
+                        return false;
+                    }
+                    // the value begun here is complete once its container is
+                    if (container_stack.empty())
+                    {
+                        return true;
+                    }
+                    continue;
+                }
+
+                // claim the element about to be read
+                --container_stack.back().remaining;
+
+                if (is_object)
                 {
                     get();
+                    key.clear();
                     if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(!get_msgpack_string(key) || !sax->key(key)))
                     {
                         return false;
                     }
+                }
+            }
 
-            if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(!parse_msgpack_internal()))
+            if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(!parse_msgpack_value()))
             {
                 return false;
             }
-            key.clear();
-        }
 
-        return sax->end_object();
+            // a value that opened a container left it on the stack; one that
+            // did not, and that was not inside a container, was the whole value
+            if (container_stack.empty())
+            {
+                return true;
+            }
+        }
     }
 
     ////////////
@@ -3347,6 +3458,9 @@ class binary_reader
     /// the SAX parser
     json_sax_t* sax = nullptr;
 
+    /// the containers that have been opened and not closed yet; see @ref container_frame
+    std::vector<container_frame> container_stack{};
+
     // excluded markers in bjdata optimized type
 #define JSON_BINARY_READER_MAKE_BJD_OPTIMIZED_TYPE_MARKERS_ \
     make_array<char_int_type>('F', 'H', 'N', 'S', 'T', 'Z', '[', '{')

single_include/nlohmann/json.hpp

@@ -10817,6 +10817,7 @@ class binary_reader
                    const cbor_tag_handler_t tag_handler = cbor_tag_handler_t::error)
     {
         sax = sax_;
+        container_stack.clear();
         bool result = false;
 
         switch (format)
@@ -10866,6 +10867,69 @@ class binary_reader
     }
 
   private:
+    ////////////////////////
+    // nested containers  //
+    ////////////////////////
+
+    /*!
+    @brief a container that has been opened and not closed yet
+
+    The binary readers do not call themselves once per nesting level. Like
+    @ref parser::sax_parse_internal, which does the same for JSON text, they
+    keep the containers they are inside of on a heap-allocated stack, so that
+    the native call stack does not grow with the nesting depth of the input
+    and a deeply nested value is bounded by memory rather than by the stack
+    (see #5104).
+
+    The members are ordered by decreasing alignment, which is the ordering that
+    keeps a struct from growing as members are added to it.
+    */
+    struct container_frame
+    {
+        container_frame(const std::size_t remaining_, const bool is_object_) noexcept
+            : remaining(remaining_), is_object(is_object_) {}
+
+        /// number of elements that have not been read yet
+        std::size_t remaining;
+        /// whether to close this container with end_object() or end_array()
+        bool is_object;
+    };
+
+    /*!
+    @brief open a nested array or object
+
+    Emits the SAX start event and records the container. This is the only
+    place the binary readers start a container, so a check that rejects one
+    can be made here and is then guaranteed to run before the start event.
+
+    @param[in] is_object  whether an object (true) or an array (false) begins
+    @param[in] len        number of elements the container declares
+
+    @return whether the SAX parser accepted the start event
+    */
+    bool enter_container(const bool is_object, const std::size_t len)
+    {
+        if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(is_object ? !sax->start_object(len) : !sax->start_array(len)))
+        {
+            return false;
+        }
+
+        container_stack.emplace_back(len, is_object);
+        return true;
+    }
+
+    /// @copydoc enter_container
+    bool enter_array(const std::size_t len)
+    {
+        return enter_container(/*is_object*/false, len);
+    }
+
+    /// @copydoc enter_container
+    bool enter_object(const std::size_t len)
+    {
+        return enter_container(/*is_object*/true, len);
+    }
+
     //////////
     // BSON //
     //////////
@@ -11198,9 +11262,12 @@ class binary_reader
 
     @return whether a valid CBOR value was passed to the SAX parser
     */
-    bool parse_cbor_internal(const bool get_char,
-                             const cbor_tag_handler_t tag_handler)
+    bool parse_cbor_value(const bool get_char,
+                          const cbor_tag_handler_t tag_handler,
+                          bool& tag_pending)
     {
+        tag_pending = false;
+
         switch (get_char ? get() : current)
         {
             // EOF
@@ -11392,37 +11459,36 @@ class binary_reader
             case 0x95:
             case 0x96:
             case 0x97:
-                return get_cbor_array(
-                           conditional_static_cast<std::size_t>(static_cast<unsigned int>(current) & 0x1Fu), tag_handler);
+                return enter_array(conditional_static_cast<std::size_t>(static_cast<unsigned int>(current) & 0x1Fu));
 
             case 0x98: // array (one-byte uint8_t for n follows)
             {
                 std::uint8_t len{};
-                return get_number(input_format_t::cbor, len) && get_cbor_array(static_cast<std::size_t>(len), tag_handler);
+                return get_number(input_format_t::cbor, len) && enter_array(static_cast<std::size_t>(len));
             }
 
             case 0x99: // array (two-byte uint16_t for n follow)
             {
                 std::uint16_t len{};
-                return get_number(input_format_t::cbor, len) && get_cbor_array(static_cast<std::size_t>(len), tag_handler);
+                return get_number(input_format_t::cbor, len) && enter_array(static_cast<std::size_t>(len));
             }
 
             case 0x9A: // array (four-byte uint32_t for n follow)
             {
                 std::uint32_t len{};
                 std::size_t size{};
-                return get_number(input_format_t::cbor, len) && get_cbor_container_size(len, size, "array") && get_cbor_array(size, tag_handler);
+                return get_number(input_format_t::cbor, len) && get_cbor_container_size(len, size, "array") && enter_array(size);
             }
 
             case 0x9B: // array (eight-byte uint64_t for n follow)
             {
                 std::uint64_t len{};
                 std::size_t size{};
-                return get_number(input_format_t::cbor, len) && get_cbor_container_size(len, size, "array") && get_cbor_array(size, tag_handler);
+                return get_number(input_format_t::cbor, len) && get_cbor_container_size(len, size, "array") && enter_array(size);
             }
 
             case 0x9F: // array (indefinite length)
-                return get_cbor_array(detail::unknown_size(), tag_handler);
+                return enter_array(detail::unknown_size());
 
             // map (0x00..0x17 pairs of data items follow)
             case 0xA0:
@@ -11449,36 +11515,36 @@ class binary_reader
             case 0xB5:
             case 0xB6:
             case 0xB7:
-                return get_cbor_object(conditional_static_cast<std::size_t>(static_cast<unsigned int>(current) & 0x1Fu), tag_handler);
+                return enter_object(conditional_static_cast<std::size_t>(static_cast<unsigned int>(current) & 0x1Fu));
 
             case 0xB8: // map (one-byte uint8_t for n follows)
             {
                 std::uint8_t len{};
-                return get_number(input_format_t::cbor, len) && get_cbor_object(static_cast<std::size_t>(len), tag_handler);
+                return get_number(input_format_t::cbor, len) && enter_object(static_cast<std::size_t>(len));
             }
 
             case 0xB9: // map (two-byte uint16_t for n follow)
             {
                 std::uint16_t len{};
-                return get_number(input_format_t::cbor, len) && get_cbor_object(static_cast<std::size_t>(len), tag_handler);
+                return get_number(input_format_t::cbor, len) && enter_object(static_cast<std::size_t>(len));
             }
 
             case 0xBA: // map (four-byte uint32_t for n follow)
             {
                 std::uint32_t len{};
                 std::size_t size{};
-                return get_number(input_format_t::cbor, len) && get_cbor_container_size(len, size, "map") && get_cbor_object(size, tag_handler);
+                return get_number(input_format_t::cbor, len) && get_cbor_container_size(len, size, "map") && enter_object(size);
             }
 
             case 0xBB: // map (eight-byte uint64_t for n follow)
             {
                 std::uint64_t len{};
                 std::size_t size{};
-                return get_number(input_format_t::cbor, len) && get_cbor_container_size(len, size, "map") && get_cbor_object(size, tag_handler);
+                return get_number(input_format_t::cbor, len) && get_cbor_container_size(len, size, "map") && enter_object(size);
             }
 
             case 0xBF: // map (indefinite length)
-                return get_cbor_object(detail::unknown_size(), tag_handler);
+                return enter_object(detail::unknown_size());
 
             case 0xC0: // tagged item
             case 0xC1:
@@ -11562,7 +11628,10 @@ class binary_reader
                             default:
                                 break;
                         }
-                        return parse_cbor_internal(true, tag_handler);
+                        // the tagged value follows; it is read by the loop in
+                        // parse_cbor_internal() rather than by recursing here
+                        tag_pending = true;
+                        return true;
                     }
 
                     case cbor_tag_handler_t::store:
@@ -11612,7 +11681,11 @@ class binary_reader
                                 break;
                             }
                             default:
-                                return parse_cbor_internal(true, tag_handler);
+                            {
+                                // as above, the tagged value is read by the caller
+                                tag_pending = true;
+                                return true;
+                            }
                         }
                         get();
                         return get_cbor_binary(b) && sax->binary(b);
@@ -12010,96 +12083,110 @@ class binary_reader
     }
 
     /*!
-    @param[in] len  the length of the array or detail::unknown_size() for an
-                    array of indefinite size
+    @brief read a CBOR value and everything nested inside it
+
+    Reads values until the one that was begun here is complete, resuming the
+    enclosing container after each element, so that the nesting depth of the
+    input costs heap rather than native stack (see #5104).
+
+    @param[in] get_char  whether a new character should be retrieved from the
+                         input (true) or whether the last read character
+                         @a current should be considered instead
     @param[in] tag_handler how CBOR tags should be treated
-    @return whether array creation completed
+
+    @return whether reading the value succeeded
     */
-    bool get_cbor_array(const std::size_t len,
+    bool parse_cbor_internal(const bool get_char,
                              const cbor_tag_handler_t tag_handler)
     {
-        if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(!sax->start_array(len)))
-        {
-            return false;
-        }
+        // whether the next value starts at a fresh byte or at the one already
+        // read into `current`
+        bool fetch = get_char;
 
-        if (len != detail::unknown_size())
-        {
-            for (std::size_t i = 0; i < len; ++i)
-            {
-                if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(!parse_cbor_internal(true, tag_handler)))
-                {
-                    return false;
-                }
-            }
-        }
-        else
-        {
-            while (get() != 0xFF)
-            {
-                if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(!parse_cbor_internal(false, tag_handler)))
-                {
-                    return false;
-                }
-            }
-        }
-
-        return sax->end_array();
-    }
-
-    /*!
-    @param[in] len  the length of the object or detail::unknown_size() for an
-                    object of indefinite size
-    @param[in] tag_handler how CBOR tags should be treated
-    @return whether object creation completed
-    */
-    bool get_cbor_object(const std::size_t len,
-                         const cbor_tag_handler_t tag_handler)
-    {
-        if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(!sax->start_object(len)))
-        {
-            return false;
-        }
-
-        if (len != 0)
-        {
+        // the key currently being read; hoisted out of the loop so that its
+        // capacity is reused across elements and across nesting levels
         string_t key;
-            if (len != detail::unknown_size())
+
+        while (true)
         {
-                for (std::size_t i = 0; i < len; ++i)
+            if (!container_stack.empty())
+            {
+                // the reference is not held across parse_cbor_value() below,
+                // which can push onto the stack and reallocate it
+                container_frame& top = container_stack.back();
+                bool at_end = false;
+
+                if (top.remaining != npos)
+                {
+                    // definite length: the container ends once its elements
+                    // have been read
+                    at_end = (top.remaining == 0);
+                    if (!at_end)
+                    {
+                        // claim the element about to be read
+                        --top.remaining;
+                        if (top.is_object)
                         {
                             get();
-                    if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(!get_cbor_string(key) || !sax->key(key)))
-                    {
-                        return false;
                         }
-
-                    if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(!parse_cbor_internal(true, tag_handler)))
-                    {
-                        return false;
-                    }
-                    key.clear();
                     }
+                    fetch = true;
                 }
                 else
                 {
-                while (get() != 0xFF)
+                    // indefinite length: the container ends at a break marker.
+                    // Testing for it consumes a byte, which is the first byte
+                    // of the next element when it is not one.
+                    at_end = (get() == 0xFF);
+                    fetch = top.is_object;
+                }
+
+                if (at_end)
                 {
+                    const bool is_object = top.is_object;
+                    container_stack.pop_back();
+                    if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(is_object ? !sax->end_object() : !sax->end_array()))
+                    {
+                        return false;
+                    }
+                    // the value begun here is complete once its container is
+                    if (container_stack.empty())
+                    {
+                        return true;
+                    }
+                    continue;
+                }
+
+                if (top.is_object)
+                {
+                    key.clear();
                     if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(!get_cbor_string(key) || !sax->key(key)))
                     {
                         return false;
                     }
+                    fetch = true;
+                }
+            }
 
-                    if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(!parse_cbor_internal(true, tag_handler)))
+            // a tag is not a value of its own: read on until the tagged value
+            bool tag_pending = false;
+            do
+            {
+                if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(!parse_cbor_value(fetch, tag_handler, tag_pending)))
                 {
                     return false;
                 }
-                    key.clear();
-                }
-            }
+                fetch = true;
             }
+            while (tag_pending);
 
-        return sax->end_object();
+            // a value that opened a container left it on the stack; one that
+            // did not, and that was not inside a container, was the whole value
+            if (container_stack.empty())
+            {
+                return true;
+            }
+        }
     }
 
     /////////////
@@ -12109,7 +12196,17 @@ class binary_reader
     /*!
     @return whether a valid MessagePack value was passed to the SAX parser
     */
-    bool parse_msgpack_internal()
+    /*!
+    @brief read one MessagePack value
+
+    Reads a single value and passes it to the SAX parser. A value that begins
+    a container is not read to its end: the container is opened with
+    @ref enter_container and its elements are read by
+    @ref parse_msgpack_internal, so that nesting does not consume native stack.
+
+    @return whether reading the value succeeded
+    */
+    bool parse_msgpack_value()
     {
         switch (get())
         {
@@ -12265,7 +12362,7 @@ class binary_reader
             case 0x8D:
             case 0x8E:
             case 0x8F:
-                return get_msgpack_object(conditional_static_cast<std::size_t>(static_cast<unsigned int>(current) & 0x0Fu));
+                return enter_object(conditional_static_cast<std::size_t>(static_cast<unsigned int>(current) & 0x0Fu));
 
             // fixarray
             case 0x90:
@@ -12284,7 +12381,7 @@ class binary_reader
             case 0x9D:
             case 0x9E:
             case 0x9F:
-                return get_msgpack_array(conditional_static_cast<std::size_t>(static_cast<unsigned int>(current) & 0x0Fu));
+                return enter_array(conditional_static_cast<std::size_t>(static_cast<unsigned int>(current) & 0x0Fu));
 
             // fixstr
             case 0xA0:
@@ -12415,25 +12512,25 @@ class binary_reader
             case 0xDC: // array 16
             {
                 std::uint16_t len{};
-                return get_number(input_format_t::msgpack, len) && get_msgpack_array(static_cast<std::size_t>(len));
+                return get_number(input_format_t::msgpack, len) && enter_array(static_cast<std::size_t>(len));
             }
 
             case 0xDD: // array 32
             {
                 std::uint32_t len{};
-                return get_number(input_format_t::msgpack, len) && get_msgpack_array(conditional_static_cast<std::size_t>(len));
+                return get_number(input_format_t::msgpack, len) && enter_array(conditional_static_cast<std::size_t>(len));
             }
 
             case 0xDE: // map 16
             {
                 std::uint16_t len{};
-                return get_number(input_format_t::msgpack, len) && get_msgpack_object(static_cast<std::size_t>(len));
+                return get_number(input_format_t::msgpack, len) && enter_object(static_cast<std::size_t>(len));
             }
 
             case 0xDF: // map 32
             {
                 std::uint32_t len{};
-                return get_number(input_format_t::msgpack, len) && get_msgpack_object(conditional_static_cast<std::size_t>(len));
+                return get_number(input_format_t::msgpack, len) && enter_object(conditional_static_cast<std::size_t>(len));
             }
 
             // negative fixint
@@ -12681,55 +12778,69 @@ class binary_reader
     }
 
     /*!
-    @param[in] len  the length of the array
-    @return whether array creation completed
+    @brief read a MessagePack value and everything nested inside it
+
+    Reads values until the one that was begun here is complete, resuming the
+    enclosing container each time an element ends, so that the nesting depth
+    of the input costs heap rather than native stack (see #5104).
+
+    @return whether reading the value succeeded
     */
-    bool get_msgpack_array(const std::size_t len)
+    bool parse_msgpack_internal()
     {
-        if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(!sax->start_array(len)))
-        {
-            return false;
-        }
-
-        for (std::size_t i = 0; i < len; ++i)
-        {
-            if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(!parse_msgpack_internal()))
-            {
-                return false;
-            }
-        }
-
-        return sax->end_array();
-    }
-
-    /*!
-    @param[in] len  the length of the object
-    @return whether object creation completed
-    */
-    bool get_msgpack_object(const std::size_t len)
-    {
-        if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(!sax->start_object(len)))
-        {
-            return false;
-        }
-
+        // the key currently being read; hoisted out of the loop so that its
+        // capacity is reused across elements and across nesting levels
         string_t key;
-        for (std::size_t i = 0; i < len; ++i)
+
+        while (true)
+        {
+            if (!container_stack.empty())
+            {
+                // copied out before anything can push onto the stack and
+                // invalidate a reference into it
+                const bool is_object = container_stack.back().is_object;
+
+                if (container_stack.back().remaining == 0)
+                {
+                    container_stack.pop_back();
+                    if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(is_object ? !sax->end_object() : !sax->end_array()))
+                    {
+                        return false;
+                    }
+                    // the value begun here is complete once its container is
+                    if (container_stack.empty())
+                    {
+                        return true;
+                    }
+                    continue;
+                }
+
+                // claim the element about to be read
+                --container_stack.back().remaining;
+
+                if (is_object)
                 {
                     get();
+                    key.clear();
                     if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(!get_msgpack_string(key) || !sax->key(key)))
                     {
                         return false;
                     }
+                }
+            }
 
-            if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(!parse_msgpack_internal()))
+            if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(!parse_msgpack_value()))
             {
                 return false;
             }
-            key.clear();
-        }
 
-        return sax->end_object();
+            // a value that opened a container left it on the stack; one that
+            // did not, and that was not inside a container, was the whole value
+            if (container_stack.empty())
+            {
+                return true;
+            }
+        }
     }
 
     ////////////
@@ -14034,6 +14145,9 @@ class binary_reader
     /// the SAX parser
     json_sax_t* sax = nullptr;
 
+    /// the containers that have been opened and not closed yet; see @ref container_frame
+    std::vector<container_frame> container_stack{};
+
     // excluded markers in bjdata optimized type
 #define JSON_BINARY_READER_MAKE_BJD_OPTIMIZED_TYPE_MARKERS_ \
     make_array<char_int_type>('F', 'H', 'N', 'S', 'T', 'Z', '[', '{')

tests/src/unit-cbor.cpp

@@ -2035,6 +2035,93 @@ TEST_CASE("CBOR definite length equal to the indefinite-length sentinel")
     }
 }
 
+TEST_CASE("CBOR nesting does not consume the call stack")
+{
+    // Containers used to be read by calling back into the value reader once
+    // per element, and a tag by calling it for the tagged value, so the native
+    // call stack grew with the nesting depth of the input. Each of the three
+    // costs a single byte to encode -- 0x9F, 0x81 and 0xC2 -- so a payload of
+    // repeated bytes crashed the process (#5104). The containers are kept on a
+    // heap stack now, and a tag is read in a loop.
+    //
+    // Deeply nested values must not be compared, copied or dumped here: those
+    // operations are still recursive and would reintroduce the crash.
+    json _;
+
+    SECTION("indefinite-length containers")
+    {
+        const std::vector<uint8_t> input(500000, 0x9F);
+        CHECK_THROWS_WITH_AS(_ = json::from_cbor(input), "[json.exception.parse_error.110] parse error at byte 500001: syntax error while parsing CBOR value: unexpected end of input", json::parse_error&);
+        CHECK(json::from_cbor(input, true, false).is_discarded());
+    }
+
+    SECTION("definite-length containers")
+    {
+        const std::vector<uint8_t> input(500000, 0x81);
+        CHECK_THROWS_WITH_AS(_ = json::from_cbor(input), "[json.exception.parse_error.110] parse error at byte 500001: syntax error while parsing CBOR value: unexpected end of input", json::parse_error&);
+        CHECK(json::from_cbor(input, true, false).is_discarded());
+    }
+
+    SECTION("tags")
+    {
+        // a tag is not a value of its own, so a chain of them used to recurse
+        const std::vector<uint8_t> input(500000, 0xC2);
+        CHECK_THROWS_WITH_AS(_ = json::from_cbor(input, true, true, json::cbor_tag_handler_t::ignore), "[json.exception.parse_error.110] parse error at byte 500001: syntax error while parsing CBOR value: unexpected end of input", json::parse_error&);
+        CHECK(json::from_cbor(input, true, false, json::cbor_tag_handler_t::ignore).is_discarded());
+    }
+
+    SECTION("a well-formed deep value is read through the SAX interface")
+    {
+        std::vector<uint8_t> input(200000, 0x9F);
+        input.insert(input.end(), 200000, 0xFF);
+
+        SaxCountdown accept_all(1000000);
+        CHECK(json::sax_parse(input, &accept_all, json::input_format_t::cbor));
+    }
+
+    SECTION("a well-formed deep value is read into a value")
+    {
+        const std::size_t depth = 10000;
+        std::vector<uint8_t> input(depth, 0x81);
+        input.push_back(0x00);
+
+        json j = json::from_cbor(input);
+
+        std::size_t measured = 0;
+        const json* p = &j;
+        while (p->is_array() && !p->empty())
+        {
+            p = &p->front();
+            ++measured;
+        }
+        CHECK(measured == depth);
+        CHECK(p->is_number());
+    }
+
+    SECTION("containers are still read the same way")
+    {
+        CHECK(json::from_cbor(std::vector<uint8_t>({0x80})) == json::array());
+        CHECK(json::from_cbor(std::vector<uint8_t>({0xA0})) == json::object());
+        CHECK(json::from_cbor(std::vector<uint8_t>({0x9F, 0xFF})) == json::array());
+        CHECK(json::from_cbor(std::vector<uint8_t>({0xBF, 0xFF})) == json::object());
+        CHECK(json::from_cbor(std::vector<uint8_t>({0x9F, 0x01, 0x02, 0xFF})) == json({1, 2}));
+        CHECK(json::from_cbor(std::vector<uint8_t>({0xBF, 0x61, 'a', 0x01, 0xFF})) == json({{"a", 1}}));
+        // definite and indefinite forms nested inside each other
+        CHECK(json::from_cbor(std::vector<uint8_t>({0x9F, 0x82, 0x01, 0x02, 0xA1, 0x61, 'k', 0xBF, 0xFF, 0xFF})) == json({{1, 2}, {{"k", json::object()}}}));
+    }
+
+    SECTION("tagged values are still read the same way")
+    {
+        const auto ignore = json::cbor_tag_handler_t::ignore;
+        CHECK(json::from_cbor(std::vector<uint8_t>({0xC2, 0x01}), true, true, ignore) == json(1));
+        // a chain of tags resolves to the value that follows it
+        CHECK(json::from_cbor(std::vector<uint8_t>({0xC2, 0xC2, 0xC2, 0x01}), true, true, ignore) == json(1));
+        // a tag inside a container, and one in front of a container
+        CHECK(json::from_cbor(std::vector<uint8_t>({0x82, 0xC2, 0x01, 0x02}), true, true, ignore) == json({1, 2}));
+        CHECK(json::from_cbor(std::vector<uint8_t>({0xC2, 0x82, 0x01, 0x02}), true, true, ignore) == json({1, 2}));
+    }
+}
+
 TEST_CASE("CBOR indefinite-length strings do not recurse per chunk")
 {
     // Reading an indefinite-length string or byte array used to call itself

tests/src/unit-msgpack.cpp

@@ -1598,6 +1598,67 @@ TEST_CASE("MessagePack")
 }
 
 // use this testcase outside [hide] to run it with Valgrind
+TEST_CASE("MessagePack nesting does not consume the call stack")
+{
+    // Reading a container used to call back into the value reader once per
+    // element, so the native call stack grew with the nesting depth of the
+    // input: one frame per byte for repeated 0x91 (a one-element array), which
+    // crashes the process long before the input is exhausted (#5104). The
+    // containers are kept on a heap stack now.
+    //
+    // Note that deeply nested values must not be compared, copied or dumped
+    // here: those operations are still recursive, and would reintroduce the
+    // very crash this checks for. Depth is measured by descending instead.
+
+    SECTION("an unterminated chain is reported, not crashed on")
+    {
+        json _;
+        const std::vector<uint8_t> input(300000, 0x91);
+        CHECK_THROWS_WITH_AS(_ = json::from_msgpack(input), "[json.exception.parse_error.110] parse error at byte 300001: syntax error while parsing MessagePack value: unexpected end of input", json::parse_error&);
+        CHECK(json::from_msgpack(input, true, false).is_discarded());
+    }
+
+    SECTION("a well-formed deep value is read through the SAX interface")
+    {
+        std::vector<uint8_t> input(300000, 0x91);
+        input.push_back(0x01); // innermost value
+
+        SaxCountdown accept_all(600001);
+        CHECK(json::sax_parse(input, &accept_all, json::input_format_t::msgpack));
+    }
+
+    SECTION("a well-formed deep value is read into a value")
+    {
+        const std::size_t depth = 10000;
+        std::vector<uint8_t> input(depth, 0x91);
+        input.push_back(0x01);
+
+        json j = json::from_msgpack(input);
+
+        std::size_t measured = 0;
+        const json* p = &j;
+        while (p->is_array() && !p->empty())
+        {
+            p = &p->front();
+            ++measured;
+        }
+        CHECK(measured == depth);
+        CHECK(p->is_number());
+    }
+
+    SECTION("containers are still read the same way")
+    {
+        CHECK(json::from_msgpack(std::vector<uint8_t>({0x90})) == json::array());
+        CHECK(json::from_msgpack(std::vector<uint8_t>({0x80})) == json::object());
+        CHECK(json::from_msgpack(std::vector<uint8_t>({0x92, 0x90, 0x80})) == json({json::array(), json::object()}));
+        CHECK(json::from_msgpack(std::vector<uint8_t>({0x91, 0x91, 0x91, 0x90})) == json({{{json::array()}}}));
+        CHECK(json::from_msgpack(std::vector<uint8_t>({0x81, 0xA1, 'a', 0x81, 0xA1, 'b', 0x92, 0x01, 0x02})) == json({{"a", {{"b", {1, 2}}}}}));
+        // array 16 and map 32, i.e. the counted forms
+        CHECK(json::from_msgpack(std::vector<uint8_t>({0xDC, 0x00, 0x02, 0x01, 0x02})) == json({1, 2}));
+        CHECK(json::from_msgpack(std::vector<uint8_t>({0xDF, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x01, 0xA1, 'k', 0xC3})) == json({{"k", true}}));
+    }
+}
+
 TEST_CASE("single MessagePack roundtrip")
 {
     SECTION("sample.json")