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CVE-2026-4647 Red Hat CVE debrief

A flaw was found in the GNU Binutils BFD library, a widely used component for handling binary files such as object files and executables. The issue occurs when processing specially crafted XCOFF object files, where a relocation type value is not properly validated before being used. This can cause the program to read memory outside of intended bounds. As a result, affected tools may crash or expose unintended memory contents, leading to denial-of-service or limited information disclosure risks. The flaw has been classified as a medium severity vulnerability with a CVSS score of 6.1. The CVE was published on March 23, 2026, and modified on June 30, 2026.

Vendor
Red Hat
Product
Red Hat Hardened Images
CVSS
MEDIUM 6.1
CISA KEV
Not listed in stored evidence
Original CVE published
2026-03-23
Original CVE updated
2026-09-01
Advisory published
2026-03-23
Advisory updated
2026-09-01

Who should care

Organizations using Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform, Red Hat Enterprise Linux, and other products that utilize the GNU Binutils BFD library should be aware of this vulnerability. Specifically, users of affected versions of these products may be impacted. The vulnerability could lead to denial-of-service or limited information disclosure if exploited.

Technical summary

The vulnerability exists in the GNU Binutils BFD library, which is used for handling binary files. The issue arises from improper validation of relocation type values in specially crafted XCOFF object files. This can lead to out-of-bounds memory reads, potentially causing crashes or information disclosure. The vulnerability has been assigned a CVSS score of 6.1, indicating medium severity. The CVSS vector is CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:H, reflecting Local Attack Vector, Low Attack Complexity, No Privileges required, User Interaction Required, Low Confidentiality impact, No Integrity impact, and High Availability impact.

Defensive priority

Apply patches or updates provided by the vendor to address the vulnerability in the GNU Binutils BFD library. Review and update inventory to ensure all affected systems and applications are identified and remediated.

Recommended defensive actions

  • Apply patches or updates provided by Red Hat to address the vulnerability in the GNU Binutils BFD library.
  • Review and update inventory to ensure all affected systems and applications are identified and remediated.
  • Implement compensating controls such as monitoring for suspicious activity related to binary file processing.
  • Consider restricting access to sensitive systems and data to limit potential impact.
  • Monitor for any additional information or updates from Red Hat regarding this vulnerability.

Evidence notes

The CVE-2026-4647 record was published on March 23, 2026, and modified on June 30, 2026. The vulnerability affects multiple Red Hat products, including OpenShift Container Platform and various versions of Red Hat Enterprise Linux. The issue is related to CWE-125, which involves reading data outside the bounds of an allocated memory buffer.

Sources and references

Verified primary and authoritative sources

  • CVE-2026-4647 CVE Program record

    Publisher, destination, and source semantics verified

    URL: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-4647

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

  • CVE-2026-4647 NVD vulnerability detail

    Publisher, destination, and source semantics verified

    URL: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-4647

    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.