Decompiler memory corruption via stale cache pointers
Published Jun 10, 2026 · Updated Jun 10, 2026
Use-after-free in Ghidra before 12.1 allows attackers to corrupt decompiler memory via a crafted binary opened for decompilation. HighVariable::merge() deletes a HighVariable while stale pointers remain in HighIntersectTest::highedgemap; moveIntersectTests() later dereferences them to read and write the freed flags field. Exploitation requires a user to open the attacker-supplied binary in the decompiler view and can corrupt analysis state or terminate the native decompiler process.
Summary
What happened
Use-after-free in Ghidra before 12.1 allows attackers to corrupt decompiler memory via a crafted binary opened for decompilation. HighVariable::merge() deletes a HighVariable while stale pointers remain in HighIntersectTest::highedgemap; moveIntersectTests() later dereferences them to read and write the freed flags field. Exploitation requires a user to open the attacker-supplied binary in the decompiler view and can corrupt analysis state or terminate the native decompiler process.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2026-52757
- Published
- Jun 10, 2026
- Updated
- Jun 10, 2026
- Vendor
- National Security Agency
- Product
- Ghidra
- Classifications
- CWE-416, T1203
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- unauthenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Jun 10, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Jun 10, 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.
- Affected versionversion=0 <12.1
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Attacks
What attackers are doing with it
Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.
Public exploit references
- uaf_merge.macho decompiler proof of conceptproof of concept · demonstrated
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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