# CVE-2026-6845: GNU binutils Denial of Service in readelf

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-6845-gnu-binutils-denial-of-service-in-readelf  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2026-04-22. Updated: 2026-05-20  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2026-6845 · Severity: medium · CVSS 5 · Published 2026-04-22

A vulnerability in the GNU binutils 'readelf' utility can allow an attacker to crash the program or make a system unresponsive. By tricking a user into opening a specially crafted file, an attacker can cause the system to run out of memory or trigger a software failure. This tool is commonly used by developers and system administrators to analyze executable files.

Technologies: [Gnu Binutils](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/binutils), [Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10.0](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/enterprise-linux-10-0), [Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7.0](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/enterprise-linux-7-0), [Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8.0](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/enterprise-linux-8-0), [Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9.0](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/enterprise-linux-9-0), [Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4.0](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/openshift-container-platform-4-0). Vendors: [Gnu](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/gnu), [Red Hat](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/red-hat).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2026-6845 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-6845 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2026-6845?** Medium severity, with a CVSS score of 5, published 22 April 2026.

**Which products and versions are affected?** Gnu Binutils 2.46.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2026-6845?** No fixed version is recorded yet. Check the vendor's advisory in the references below. If you run it, Junglewise drafts a mitigation that fits your setup and applies it once you approve, with senior security engineers behind it.

**How is CVE-2026-6845 attacked?** It is attacked with local access, in a software library.

**Am I affected by CVE-2026-6845?** Check whether you run Gnu Binutils, Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10.0, Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6.0 or one of the others listed 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.

## Technical details

This vulnerability in GNU binutils (specifically the readelf utility) encompasses two distinct Denial of Service vectors: a resource exhaustion flaw and a NULL pointer dereference (CWE-476). The resource exhaustion occurs when a small, malformed ELF file triggers an excessive memory allocation (up to several terabytes), leading to an Out-Of-Memory (OOM) kill. The NULL pointer dereference is triggered by malformed section header entry sizes or offsets, resulting in a SIGSEGV crash. Exploitation requires a local attacker to trick a user into processing the malicious ELF file with readelf. The issues were identified via AFL++ fuzzing in version 2.46.

## Affected products

- GNU binutils 2.46
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6.0
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7.0
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8.0
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9.0
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10.0
- Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4.0

## Timeline

- 2026-04-21: other: Vulnerability reported to Red Hat Bugzilla
- 2026-04-22: advisory: Initial NVD publication date
- 2026-05-20: other: NVD analysis and CPE information added

## References

- [https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2026-6845](https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2026-6845)
- [https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2460012](https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2460012)

## Related threats

- [GNU Binutils null pointer dereference in dynamic relocation allocation](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-91782-gnu-binutils-null-pointer-dereference-in-dynamic-relocation)
- [GNU Binutils null pointer dereference in ELF section handler](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-91781-gnu-binutils-null-pointer-dereference-in-elf-section-handler)
- [GNU Binutils null pointer dereference in ELF linker](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-91780-gnu-binutils-null-pointer-dereference-in-elf-linker)
- [GNU Binutils null pointer dereference in eh_frame section offset](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-91779-gnu-binutils-null-pointer-dereference-in-eh-frame-section-offset)
- [GNU Binutils memory corruption in ELF string table handling](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-90831-gnu-binutils-memory-corruption-in-elf-string-table-handling)