# CVE-2026-90804: GNU Binutils heap buffer overflow in eh_frame handler

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-90804-gnu-binutils-heap-buffer-overflow-in-eh-frame-handler  
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-2026-90804 · Severity: medium · CVSS 4.8 · Published 2026-09-14

GNU Binutils is a collection of tools used to assemble, link, and manipulate binary object files, which are essential components in software development and build pipelines. A heap buffer overflow vulnerability in the EH Frame Section Handler can cause a crash or potentially allow local code execution when processing specially crafted object files with malformed exception handling frame data.

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

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2026-90804 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-90804 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2026-90804?** Medium severity, with a CVSS score of 4.8, published 14 September 2026.

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

**Is there a fix for CVE-2026-90804?** 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-2026-90804 attacked?** It is attacked with local access.

**Am I affected by CVE-2026-90804?** 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

This is a heap out-of-bounds (OOB) write vulnerability affecting the _bfd_elf_write_section_eh_frame function in bfd/elf-eh-frame.c. The vulnerability is triggered via malformed .eh_frame sections that manipulate arguments such as cie_length, fde_length, augmentation_data_size, or write_offset, causing a negative-size memmove operation. Local access and the ability to supply a malicious binary object file are required to trigger the vulnerability. An attacker can cause a denial of service (SEGV crash) or potentially achieve local code execution. The vendor was notified early but has not yet issued a patch at the time of public disclosure.

## Affected products

- GNU Binutils 2.47

## Timeline

- 2026-09-14: disclosed
- <UNKNOWN>: exploited: Public exploit code available

## References

- [https://github.com/r1ck9-2q/cve_summit/blob/main/Heap%20OOB%20write%20%20negative-size%20%60memmove%60%20%20SEGV%20in%20%60_bfd_elf_write_section_eh_frame%60%20(bfdelf-eh-frame.c2064%20%202083%20%202193)%20via%20malformed%20%60.eh_frame%60.md](https://github.com/r1ck9-2q/cve_summit/blob/main/Heap%20OOB%20write%20%20negative-size%20%60memmove%60%20%20SEGV%20in%20%60_bfd_elf_write_section_eh_frame%60%20(bfdelf-eh-frame.c2064%20%202083%20%202193)%20via%20malformed%20%60.eh_frame%60.md)
- [https://sourceware.org/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=34445](https://sourceware.org/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=34445)

## 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)