# CVE-2026-90803: GNU Binutils buffer overflow in elf_x86_64_relocate_section

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-90803-gnu-binutils-buffer-overflow-in-elf-x86-64-relocate-section  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2026-09-14. Updated: 2026-09-26  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2026-90803 · Severity: medium · CVSS 5.3 · Published 2026-09-14

GNU Binutils is a collection of binary tools used by developers and build systems to process compiled code. A buffer overflow vulnerability in the linker's ELF x86-64 relocation handler allows a local attacker to cause a denial of service or potentially execute arbitrary code by providing a malformed binary file during linking.

Technologies: [Gnu Binutils](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/binutils). Vendors: [Gnu](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/gnu).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2026-90803 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-90803 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2026-90803?** Medium severity, with a CVSS score of 5.3, published 14 September 2026.

**Which products and versions are affected?** Gnu Binutils 2.47.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2026-90803?** A patch was published on 2026-09-14: Fix available in version 2.48, commit 471130b39c03623ec6d78ece377ff4da3f6bfe7b Junglewise finds every place you run it, drafts the upgrade and applies it once you approve.

**How is CVE-2026-90803 attacked?** It is attacked with local access, in a software library.

**Am I affected by CVE-2026-90803?** Check whether you run Gnu Binutils 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

The vulnerability is a buffer overflow in the elf_x86_64_relocate_section function within bfd/elf64-x86-64.c, triggered by improper handling of the relocation offset (roff) argument when processing malformed ELF relocations. The attack vector is local; an attacker must convince a developer or build system to process a specially crafted ELF binary file. Exploitation results in out-of-bounds heap read/write and potential segmentation faults. The fix is available in GNU Binutils 2.48 (commit 471130b39c03623ec6d78ece377ff4da3f6bfe7b), and upgrading is the recommended remediation.

## Affected products

- GNU Binutils 2.47

## Timeline

- 2026-09-14: disclosed
- 2026-09-14: patched: Fix available in version 2.48, commit 471130b39c03623ec6d78ece377ff4da3f6bfe7b

## References

- [https://github.com/r1ck9-2q/cve_summit/blob/main/Heap%20OOB%20readwrite%20and%20SEGV%20in%20%60elf_x86_64_relocate_section%60%20(bfdelf64-x86-64.c4530%20%204835)%20via%20malformed%20relocation.md](https://github.com/r1ck9-2q/cve_summit/blob/main/Heap%20OOB%20readwrite%20and%20SEGV%20in%20%60elf_x86_64_relocate_section%60%20(bfdelf64-x86-64.c4530%20%204835)%20via%20malformed%20relocation.md)
- [https://sourceware.org/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=34444](https://sourceware.org/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=34444)

## 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)