CVE-2026-72678

Memory Allocation with Excessive Size Value in Elasticsearch Leading to Denial of Service

Published Aug 13, 2026 CVSS 3.1 · 6.5 Medium EPSS < 1% KEV · Not listed
Description
Elasticsearch does not validate a size value taken from a user-supplied input before that value is used to reserve memory for an internal data structure. An authenticated user holding only read privileges can submit a single small crafted request to a product API endpoint that causes the node to attempt an excessively large allocation. The resulting memory exhaustion raises a fatal error that terminates the Elasticsearch node process, causing a denial of service for the affected node and degrading cluster health. The defect is not volumetric, so a single request is sufficient regardless of the heap size configured on the target node.

Remediation

No solution or workaround provided in the CVE record

Tracking

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Advisories

No advisories available
History
Type Values Removed Values Added
CPEs cpe:2.3:a:elastic:elasticsearch:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics ssvc

{'options': {'Automatable': 'no', 'Exploitation': 'none', 'Technical Impact': 'partial'}, 'version': '2.0.3'}

Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Elastic
Elastic elasticsearch
Vendors & Products Elastic
Elastic elasticsearch
Type Values Removed Values Added
Description Elasticsearch does not validate a size value taken from a user-supplied input before that value is used to reserve memory for an internal data structure. An authenticated user holding only read privileges can submit a single small crafted request to a product API endpoint that causes the node to attempt an excessively large allocation. The resulting memory exhaustion raises a fatal error that terminates the Elasticsearch node process, causing a denial of service for the affected node and degrading cluster health. The defect is not volumetric, so a single request is sufficient regardless of the heap size configured on the target node.
Title Memory Allocation with Excessive Size Value in Elasticsearch Leading to Denial of Service
Weaknesses CWE-789
References
Metrics cvssV3_1

{'score': 6.5, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H'}

Weaknesses

Sources

Status
PUBLISHED
Assigner
elastic
Published
Updated
Aug 13, 2026, 8:34 PM
Reserved
Aug 10, 2026, 11:17 AM
Status
Analyzed
Published
Aug 13, 2026, 8:17 PM
Modified
Sep 1, 2026, 3:28 PM
Severity
Moderate
Public date
Aug 13, 2026, 7:11 PM