From a5519890086a81fc5ee69d082ade99673f094973 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Fabrice Fontaine <fabrice.fontaine@orange.com>
Date: Tue, 9 Dec 2025 19:16:11 +0100
Subject: [PATCH] fix: do not expect db to exist with --import-json

Obviously, --import-json is mainly useful when db doesn't exist so drop
cvedb_orig.check_db_exists() from if statement

Moreover, do not exit after --import-json or --export-json to be
consistent with --import and --export

Finally, while at it, add --{im,ex}port-json to offline.md

Signed-off-by: Fabrice Fontaine <fabrice.fontaine@orange.com>
---
 cve_bin_tool/cli.py          | 10 +++-------
 doc/how_to_guides/offline.md |  9 +++++++++
 2 files changed, 12 insertions(+), 7 deletions(-)

diff --git a/cve_bin_tool/cli.py b/cve_bin_tool/cli.py
index 95074e65cc..9366066e4a 100644
--- a/cve_bin_tool/cli.py
+++ b/cve_bin_tool/cli.py
@@ -859,25 +859,21 @@ def main(argv=None):
                 return ERROR_CODES[MirrorError]
 
         # import database from JSON chopped by years
-        if args["import_json"] and cvedb_orig.check_db_exists():
-            return_code = cvedb_orig.json_to_db_wrapper(
+        if args["import_json"]:
+            cvedb_orig.json_to_db_wrapper(
                 path=args["import_json"],
                 pubkey=args["verify"],
                 ignore_signature=args["ignore_sig"],
                 log_signature_error=args["log_signature_error"],
             )
-            # And terminate operation
-            return return_code
 
         # Export database as JSON chopped by years
         if args["export_json"] and cvedb_orig.check_db_exists():
-            return_code = cvedb_orig.db_to_json(
+            cvedb_orig.db_to_json(
                 path=args["export_json"],
                 private_key=args["pgp_sign"],
                 passphrase=args["passphrase"],
             )
-            # And terminate operation
-            return return_code
 
         # Import database if file exists
         if args["import"] and Path(args["import"]).exists():
diff --git a/doc/how_to_guides/offline.md b/doc/how_to_guides/offline.md
index af648fa075..c4123d677c 100644
--- a/doc/how_to_guides/offline.md
+++ b/doc/how_to_guides/offline.md
@@ -17,6 +17,11 @@ Run the tool to export the latest version of the vulnerability database.
 ```
 $ cve-bin-tool --export <filename>
 ```
+or
+
+```
+$ cve-bin-tool --export-json <directory>
+```
 
 ## Transfer the vulnerability database file into a directory in the offline environment
 
@@ -28,6 +33,10 @@ Run the tool to import the transferred copy of the vulnerability database.
 ```
 $ cve-bin-tool --import <filename>
 ```
+or
+```
+$ cve-bin-tool --import-json <directory>
+```
 
 The cve-bin-tool will fail to operate in offline mode if a vulnerability database is not present on the system.