CVE-2026-72685: Inefficient Algorithmic Complexity in Elasticsearch Leading to Denial of Service

Published Aug 13, 2026
·
Updated

A flaw in Elasticsearch allows a low-privileged authenticated user who can index documents to submit a single small document containing a crafted user-supplied input. Processing one such document occupies a worker thread from a bounded pool for a disproportionate amount of time, degrading the availability of indexing operations on the affected node.

Affected Software

3 affected components
Elasticsearch Elasticsearch
Elastic Elasticsearch>=8.0.0<8.19.20
Elastic Elasticsearch>=9.0.0<9.4.5

Event History

Aug 13, 2026
CVE Published
via MITRE·07:10 PM
Data Sourced
via MITRE·07:10 PM
DescriptionSeverityWeakness
Data Sourced
via NVD·08:17 PM
DescriptionSeverityWeaknessAffected Software

Frequently Asked Questions

1

What is the severity of CVE-2026-72685?

The severity of CVE-2026-72685 is rated as medium with a score of 4.3.

2

How do I fix CVE-2026-72685?

To fix CVE-2026-72685, upgrade Elasticsearch to the latest version that has addressed this vulnerability.

3

What impact does CVE-2026-72685 have on my system?

CVE-2026-72685 can lead to a denial of service by consuming worker threads, resulting in degraded performance of Elasticsearch.

4

Who is affected by CVE-2026-72685?

CVE-2026-72685 affects low-privileged authenticated users who can index documents in Elasticsearch.

5

What is the nature of the vulnerability in CVE-2026-72685?

The vulnerability in CVE-2026-72685 involves inefficient algorithmic complexity that allows crafted input to monopolize processing resources.

Contact

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