# CVE-2026-90830: GNU Binutils null pointer dereference in section merge

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-90830-gnu-binutils-null-pointer-dereference-in-section-merge  
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-2026-90830 · Severity: medium · CVSS 5.3 · Published 2026-09-14

GNU Binutils is a collection of tools used to build and manipulate binary executable files. A malformed ELF object file can trigger a null pointer dereference crash in the linker when processing merged sections with specific options, causing the build process to fail and potentially allowing an attacker to trigger a denial of service.

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

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2026-90830 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-90830 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2026-90830?** 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-2026-90830?** 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-2026-90830 attacked?** It is attacked with local access, in a software library.

**Am I affected by CVE-2026-90830?** 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

A null pointer dereference vulnerability exists in the _bfd_write_merged_section function (bfd/merge.c:1121) when processing malformed ELF files with merged sections. The vulnerability is triggered when using the linker with `--shared -z now` options on an object file with inconsistent merge state, causing a NULL-derived pointer dereference. The attack is local and requires the attacker to provide a malformed ELF object file to be linked. An attacker can crash the linker or build process. The issue appears to be an incomplete fix for a prior vulnerability (bug 33477) and remains unfixed as of the advisory date.

## Affected products

- GNU Binutils 2.47

## Timeline

- 2026-07-28: disclosed: Bug reported via Sourceware Bugzilla
- 2026-09-14: advisory: CVE-2026-90830 published

## References

- [https://sourceware.org/bugzilla/attachment.cgi?id=16884](https://sourceware.org/bugzilla/attachment.cgi?id=16884)
- [https://sourceware.org/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=34452](https://sourceware.org/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=34452)

## 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)