CVE-2026-72642
HIGHDescription
The native inference process that Elasticsearch uses to evaluate uploaded machine learning models accepts a model operation that computes a memory address from an offset supplied inside the model, without validating that the offset stays within the bounds of the underlying storage. A user with the privileges required to upload and deploy a trained model can craft a model that reads and writes memory outside the intended allocation. The result is heap corruption that crashes the inference process, and, with sufficient control over the heap layout, could allow arbitrary code execution in the context of that process.
How to fix
TridentStack Control can deploy fixes like this automatically across your Windows, macOS, and Linux fleet. See how it works
Remediation is compiled from vendor and distribution security advisories. Always confirm against the linked source for your exact version and platform.
CVSS v3 Vector
Exploitability
Impact
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Exploit Intelligence
Low risk: more likely to be exploited than 27% of all known CVEs.
References
Related Vulnerabilities
Other CWE-823 vulnerabilities, ordered by exploit likelihood. View all
| CVE | Severity | CVSS | EPSS | Exploited | Fix |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CVE-2016-2161 | High | 7.5 | 21% | - | Fix |
| CVE-2020-6112 | High | 7.8 | 17% | - | - |
| CVE-2020-27009 | High | 8.1 | 7.2% | - | Fix |
| CVE-2023-46724 | High | 8.6 | 4.0% | - | Fix |
| CVE-2020-13573 | High | 7.5 | 3.4% | - | - |
| CVE-2022-0685 | High | 7.8 | 1.7% | - | Fix |
Common questions
How do I fix CVE-2026-72642?
Upgrade Elasticsearch to 8.19.20 or later.
Is CVE-2026-72642 being actively exploited?
Not that we know of. CVE-2026-72642 is not in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog. Its EPSS score of 0.34% is the estimated probability that it will be exploited in the next 30 days. That is higher than 27% of all scored CVEs.
How severe is CVE-2026-72642?
CVE-2026-72642 has a CVSS v3 base score of 8.8, rated high. CVSS rates the technical impact if the vulnerability is exploited, not how likely that is, so weigh it alongside the exploit-prediction score when you decide what to patch first.
What does CVE-2026-72642 affect?
Published advisories record a fix for Elasticsearch (Windows application). Only products with a sourced advisory are listed, so treat this as what we can cite rather than a complete inventory.
Embed a live status badge for CVE-2026-72642
Markdown
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This product uses NVD data but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. EPSS scores courtesy of FIRST.org (https://www.first.org/epss). Source: CISA KEV Catalog. Data as of 2026-09-01.