CVE-2026-75819: CWE-125 Out-of-bounds Read in GNU Aspell
Description
GNU Aspell contains an out-of-bounds read vulnerability in ReadOnlyDict::load() in readonly_ws.cpp. When loading a binary .rws dictionary file, it uses offset fields from the file header as byte indices into a heap buffer without validating their bounds. An attacker can trigger this by convincing a user to run aspell with a crafted dictionary file supplied through --master, --dict-dir, or configuration options, leading to heap memory disclosure or a denial of service via application crash. This issue was fixed in commit 941953b25031bc9104e83f58e138a664b8dedc3f which will be released in version 0.60.8.3.
CVSS v4.0
Score 1.8low
Affected software
GNU
Aspell
Run on your own infrastructure? Check whether these packages are installed with threat-finder — our free open-source scanner.
Weaknesses
AI-Powered Analysis
Machine-generated threat intelligence
Technical Analysis
CVE-2026-75819 is an out-of-bounds read vulnerability in GNU Aspell's ReadOnlyDict::load() function. The vulnerability arises because offset fields from the binary .rws dictionary file header are used as byte indices into a heap buffer without proper bounds validation. This can be triggered by an attacker providing a malicious dictionary file through --master, --dict-dir, or configuration options, resulting in heap memory disclosure or a denial of service due to application crash. The vulnerability was fixed in commit 941953b25031bc9104e83f58e138a664b8dedc3f and will be released in version 0.60.8.3.
Potential Impact
Exploitation of this vulnerability can lead to disclosure of heap memory contents or cause the application to crash, resulting in denial of service. The CVSS 4.0 base score is 1.8, indicating a low severity impact. No known exploits are reported in the wild.
Mitigation Recommendations
Upgrade GNU Aspell to version 0.60.8.3 or later, where this vulnerability is fixed. Until then, avoid running aspell with untrusted dictionary files supplied via --master, --dict-dir, or configuration options.
Technical Details
- Data Version
- 5.2
- Assigner Short Name
- CERT-PL
- Date Reserved
- 2026-08-18T10:13:29.246Z
- Cvss Version
- 4.0
- State
- PUBLISHED
Threat ID: 6ac4d5ae2cdf04f6569deab1
Added to database: 10/06/2026, 11:04:14 UTC
Last enriched: 10/06/2026, 11:18:17 UTC
Last updated: 10/06/2026, 13:19:15 UTC
Views: 8
Community Reviews
0 reviewsCrowdsource mitigation strategies, share intel context, and vote on the most helpful responses. Sign in to add your voice and help keep defenders ahead.
Want to contribute mitigation steps or threat intel context? Sign in or create an account to join the community discussion.
Actions
Updates to AI analysis require Pro Console access. Upgrade inside Console → Billing.
Need more coverage?
Upgrade to Pro Console for AI refresh and higher limits.
For incident response and remediation, OffSeq services can help resolve threats faster.
Latest Threats
Check if your credentials are on the dark web
Instant breach scanning across billions of leaked records. Free tier available.