CVE-2026-72678: Memory Allocation with Excessive Size Value in Elasticsearch Leading to Denial of Service

Published Aug 13, 2026
·
Updated

Elasticsearch does not validate a size value taken from a user-supplied input before that value is used to reserve memory for an internal data structure. An authenticated user holding only read privileges can submit a single small crafted request to a product API endpoint that causes the node to attempt an excessively large allocation. The resulting memory exhaustion raises a fatal error that terminates the Elasticsearch node process, causing a denial of service for the affected node and degrading cluster health. The defect is not volumetric, so a single request is sufficient regardless of the heap size configured on the target node.

Affected Software

4 affected components
Elasticsearch
Elastic Elasticsearch>=8.19.0<8.19.20
Elastic Elasticsearch>=9.4.0<9.4.5
Elastic Elasticsearch>=9.5.0<9.5.1

Event History

Aug 13, 2026
CVE Published
via MITRE·07:11 PM
Data Sourced
via MITRE·07:11 PM
DescriptionSeverityWeakness
Data Sourced
via NVD·08:17 PM
DescriptionSeverityWeaknessAffected Software

Frequently Asked Questions

1

What is the severity of CVE-2026-72678?

The severity of CVE-2026-72678 is rated as medium with a score of 6.5.

2

What is CVE-2026-72678 about?

CVE-2026-72678 involves a memory allocation vulnerability in Elasticsearch that can lead to a denial of service.

3

How do I fix CVE-2026-72678?

To fix CVE-2026-72678, you should update to the latest version of Elasticsearch where this vulnerability has been addressed.

4

Who is affected by CVE-2026-72678?

CVE-2026-72678 affects authenticated users with read privileges in Elasticsearch.

5

What are the potential impacts of CVE-2026-72678?

The potential impact of CVE-2026-72678 is a denial of service caused by excessive memory allocation.

Contact

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