CVE-2026-6845: NULL Pointer Dereference in Red Hat Red Hat Hardened Images
A flaw was found in binutils, specifically within the `readelf` utility. This vulnerability allows a local attacker to cause a Denial of Service (DoS) by tricking a user into processing a specially crafted Executable and Linkable Format (ELF) file. The exploitation of this flaw can lead to the system becoming unresponsive due to excessive resource consumption or a program crash.
AI Analysis
Technical Summary
A NULL pointer dereference vulnerability (CVE-2026-6845) exists in the readelf utility of the binutils package included in Red Hat Hardened Images version 10. This flaw allows a local attacker to cause a denial of service by tricking a user into processing a maliciously crafted ELF file, resulting in program crashes or excessive resource consumption. Red Hat has released security updates in binutils versions 2.45.1-5.2.hum1 and 2.46.1-1.hum1 that fix this issue. The vulnerability has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 5.0 (medium severity) with attack vector local, low attack complexity, requiring low privileges and user interaction, and impacts availability only.
Potential Impact
Successful exploitation of this vulnerability results in denial of service conditions by crashing the readelf utility or causing excessive resource consumption, potentially making the system unresponsive. There is no impact on confidentiality or integrity. The attack requires local access and user interaction.
Mitigation Recommendations
Red Hat has released official security updates that fix this vulnerability in binutils versions 2.45.1-5.2.hum1 and 2.46.1-1.hum1. Users of Red Hat Hardened Images version 10 should apply these updates promptly. Patch status is confirmed by Red Hat advisories RHSA-2026:34924 and RHSA-2026:39022. No additional mitigation steps are indicated by the vendor.
CVE-2026-6845: NULL Pointer Dereference in Red Hat Red Hat Hardened Images
Description
A flaw was found in binutils, specifically within the `readelf` utility. This vulnerability allows a local attacker to cause a Denial of Service (DoS) by tricking a user into processing a specially crafted Executable and Linkable Format (ELF) file. The exploitation of this flaw can lead to the system becoming unresponsive due to excessive resource consumption or a program crash.
CVSS v3.1
Score 5.0medium
Affected software
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AI-Powered Analysis
Machine-generated threat intelligence
Technical Analysis
A NULL pointer dereference vulnerability (CVE-2026-6845) exists in the readelf utility of the binutils package included in Red Hat Hardened Images version 10. This flaw allows a local attacker to cause a denial of service by tricking a user into processing a maliciously crafted ELF file, resulting in program crashes or excessive resource consumption. Red Hat has released security updates in binutils versions 2.45.1-5.2.hum1 and 2.46.1-1.hum1 that fix this issue. The vulnerability has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 5.0 (medium severity) with attack vector local, low attack complexity, requiring low privileges and user interaction, and impacts availability only.
Potential Impact
Successful exploitation of this vulnerability results in denial of service conditions by crashing the readelf utility or causing excessive resource consumption, potentially making the system unresponsive. There is no impact on confidentiality or integrity. The attack requires local access and user interaction.
Mitigation Recommendations
Red Hat has released official security updates that fix this vulnerability in binutils versions 2.45.1-5.2.hum1 and 2.46.1-1.hum1. Users of Red Hat Hardened Images version 10 should apply these updates promptly. Patch status is confirmed by Red Hat advisories RHSA-2026:34924 and RHSA-2026:39022. No additional mitigation steps are indicated by the vendor.
Technical Details
- Data Version
- 5.2
- Assigner Short Name
- redhat
- Date Reserved
- 2026-04-22T07:41:36.781Z
- Cvss Version
- 3.1
- State
- PUBLISHED
- Remediation Level
- null
- Vendor Advisory Urls
- [{"url":"https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2026-6845","vendor":"Red Hat"}]
Threat ID: 69e8877219fe3cd2cd8093fa
Added to database: 04/22/2026, 08:31:46 UTC
Last enriched: 07/14/2026, 07:57:10 UTC
Last updated: 07/31/2026, 19:23:00 UTC
Views: 117
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