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CVE-2026-3442 Red Hat CVE debrief

CVE-2026-3442 is a heap-based buffer overflow vulnerability in GNU Binutils, specifically an out-of-bounds read in the bfd linker component. An attacker could exploit this by convincing a user to process a specially crafted malicious XCOFF object file. Successful exploitation may lead to the disclosure of sensitive information or cause the application to crash, resulting in an application level denial of service. This vulnerability has a CVSS score of 6.1 and is classified as MEDIUM severity. The CVE was published on March 16, 2026, and last modified on June 30, 2026. Affected products include Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform and various versions of Red Hat Enterprise Linux.

Vendor
Red Hat
Product
Red Hat Hardened Images
CVSS
MEDIUM 6.1
CISA KEV
Not listed in stored evidence
Original CVE published
2026-03-16
Original CVE updated
2026-09-01
Advisory published
2026-03-16
Advisory updated
2026-09-01

Who should care

Security teams and administrators responsible for Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform and Red Hat Enterprise Linux systems should be aware of this vulnerability. They should assess their exposure and apply necessary patches or mitigations to prevent exploitation.

Technical summary

The vulnerability exists in the bfd linker component of GNU Binutils, which is used in Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform and various Red Hat Enterprise Linux versions. An out-of-bounds read can occur when processing a specially crafted XCOFF object file, potentially leading to sensitive information disclosure or application crashes. The Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS) score for this vulnerability is 6.1, indicating medium severity.

Defensive priority

Apply patches or updates provided by Red Hat to address the vulnerability in GNU Binutils. Review and update affected systems, especially those running Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform and Enterprise Linux.

Recommended defensive actions

  • Apply patches or updates provided by Red Hat to address the vulnerability in GNU Binutils.
  • Review and update affected systems, especially those running Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform and Enterprise Linux.
  • Monitor systems for suspicious activity related to the exploitation of this vulnerability.
  • Implement compensating controls, such as additional monitoring or access restrictions, if patching is not immediately feasible.
  • Verify the integrity of XCOFF object files before processing them.

Evidence notes

The CVE record and NVD detail provide information on the vulnerability, its impact, and affected products. Red Hat has provided advisories and patches for this issue. The vulnerability is caused by an out-of-bounds read in the bfd linker component of GNU Binutils.

Sources and references

Verified primary and authoritative sources

  • CVE-2026-3442 CVE Program record

    Publisher, destination, and source semantics verified

    URL: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-3442

    CVE Program - Official CVE Program record with source-provided CVE metadata.

  • CVE-2026-3442 NVD vulnerability detail

    Publisher, destination, and source semantics verified

    URL: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-3442

    NIST National Vulnerability Database - Official NIST NVD detail page and source-specific vulnerability assessment.

Supplemental references

Methodology and review provenance

AI-assisted synthesis based on stored public vulnerability evidence. System validation, approval state, and publication status do not by themselves establish human review of this revision. PatchSiren helps prioritize defensive review and does not prove exposure or remediation on any system.