CVE-2026-72679: Uncontrolled Recursion in Elasticsearch Leading to Denial of Service

Published Aug 13, 2026
·
Updated

Elasticsearch does not apply its configurable input length restriction to a user-supplied pattern accepted by an intervals query. Compiling a deeply nested pattern drives unbounded recursion that exhausts the thread stack and raises a fatal error, terminating the Elasticsearch node process and causing a denial of service for that node. An authenticated user holding only read-only privileges on a single searchable index can trigger the condition with one small search request.

Affected Software

3 affected components
Elastic Elasticsearch
Elastic Elasticsearch>=8.19.0<8.19.20
Elastic Elasticsearch>=9.0.0<9.4.5

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-2026-72679?

The severity of CVE-2026-72679 is medium with a CVSS score of 6.5.

2

How does CVE-2026-72679 affect Elasticsearch?

CVE-2026-72679 can lead to a denial of service by exhausting the thread stack through uncontrolled recursion in user-supplied patterns.

3

What are the potential impacts of CVE-2026-72679?

The impact of CVE-2026-72679 includes terminating the Elasticsearch node process, which can disrupt service availability.

4

How can I mitigate CVE-2026-72679?

Mitigation for CVE-2026-72679 involves applying patches from the Elasticsearch security update to prevent unbounded recursion.

5

Which software versions are affected by CVE-2026-72679?

CVE-2026-72679 affects certain versions of Elastic Elasticsearch, specifically those that allow unbounded nesting in intervals queries.

Contact

SecAlerts Pty Ltd.
132 Wickham Terrace
Fortitude Valley,
QLD 4006, Australia
info@secalerts.co
By using SecAlerts services, you agree to our services end-user license agreement. This website is safeguarded by reCAPTCHA and governed by the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. All names, logos, and brands of products are owned by their respective owners, and any usage of these names, logos, and brands for identification purposes only does not imply endorsement. If you possess any content that requires removal, please get in touch with us.
© 2026 SecAlerts Pty Ltd.
ABN: 70 645 966 203, ACN: 645 966 203