Process crash via PN_XNUM header-count desynchronization
Published Sep 22, 2026 · Updated Sep 22, 2026
Heap out-of-bounds read in radare2 before 6.1.9 allows attackers to terminate radare2 or rabin2 by opening a crafted ELF file. The ELF loader allocates its program-header array from the resolved PN_XNUM count in shdr[0].sh_info, while multiple consumers use the original 65,535 e_phnum value as their loop bound. Exploitation requires an affected tool to inspect the file and is limited to a process crash; memory disclosure and code execution have not been demonstrated.
Summary
What happened
Heap out-of-bounds read in radare2 before 6.1.9 allows attackers to terminate radare2 or rabin2 by opening a crafted ELF file. The ELF loader allocates its program-header array from the resolved PN_XNUM count in shdr[0].sh_info, while multiple consumers use the original 65,535 e_phnum value as their loop bound. Exploitation requires an affected tool to inspect the file and is limited to a process crash; memory disclosure and code execution have not been demonstrated.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2026-81879
- Published
- Sep 22, 2026
- Updated
- Sep 22, 2026
- Vendor
- radareorg
- Product
- radare2
- Classifications
- CWE-125, T1499.004, T1204.002
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- unauthenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Sep 22, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Sep 22, 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=< 6.2.0
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.
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.
Activity data is delayed. The latest report is Sep 28, 2026.
Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
- PN_XNUM crafted ELF proof of conceptproof of concept · demonstrated
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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