Description
A flaw was found in the `readelf` utility of the binutils package. A local attacker could exploit two Denial of Service (DoS) vulnerabilities by providing a specially crafted Executable and Linkable Format (ELF) file. One vulnerability, a resource exhaustion (CWE-400), can lead to an out-of-memory condition. The other, a null pointer dereference (CWE-476), can cause a segmentation fault. Both issues can result in the `readelf` utility becoming unresponsive or crashing, leading to a denial of service.
Affected products
gnu: binutils; redhat: hardened images; redhat: openshift container platform; redhat: enterprise linux
References2
- access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2026-6844 Third Party Advisory
- bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2460016 Issue TrackingThird Party Advisory
Metrics
- CVSS 3.1
-
5.5
MEDIUM
Score source: CNA
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H - EPSS — exploit probability
- 0% percentile: 1 · as of 13 November 2026
- CWE
- CWE-400
Could this be exploited in your environment?
A patch closes the known hole. A penetration test shows what an attacker can still reach — with proof.