CVE-2026-49146Network attack vector

Process crash via unbounded context buffer allocation

Published Jul 8, 2026 · Updated Jul 8, 2026

Resource exhaustion in Andy Lester ack before 3.10.0 allows context-dependent attackers to crash ack via a project .ackrc file. App::Ack::ConfigLoader::_context_value accepts any positive -A, -B, or -C value, which directly sizes ack's before-context buffer without an upper bound. Execution from within an attacker-controlled repository is required, and an oversized value exhausts memory until ack aborts or becomes unresponsive.

CVSS severity7.5
High
EPSS probability0.61%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Resource exhaustion in Andy Lester ack before 3.10.0 allows context-dependent attackers to crash ack via a project .ackrc file. App::Ack::ConfigLoader::_context_value accepts any positive -A, -B, or -C value, which directly sizes ack's before-context buffer without an upper bound. Execution from within an attacker-controlled repository is required, and an oversized value exhausts memory until ack aborts or becomes unresponsive.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-49146
Published
Jul 8, 2026
Updated
Jul 8, 2026
Vendor
Andy Lester
Product
ack
Classifications
CWE-770, T1499.003
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jul 8, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Jul 8, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=0 <3.10.0

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Andy Lester · ackversion=0 <3.10.0

Published CVSS scores

7.5CISA-ADPCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

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No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-770Allocation of Resources Without Limits or Throttling
T1499.003Application Exhaustion Flood

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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