CVE-2026-40499 in radare2
Summary
by MITRE • 04/15/2026
radare2 prior to version 6.1.4 contains a command injection vulnerability in the PDB parser's print_gvars() function that allows attackers to execute arbitrary commands by embedding a newline byte in the PE section header name field. Attackers can craft a malicious PDB file with specially crafted section names to inject r2 commands that are executed when the idp command processes the file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/16/2026
The vulnerability CVE-2026-40499 represents a critical command injection flaw within radare2, a widely-used reverse engineering framework that has been identified in versions prior to 6.1.4. This vulnerability specifically targets the PDB parser component of radare2, which is responsible for processing Program Database files commonly used in Windows debugging and reverse engineering operations. The flaw exists within the print_gvars() function, a component that handles the display of global variables from PDB files, creating a dangerous attack vector where malicious actors can manipulate the parsing process to execute arbitrary commands on the victim's system. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it leverages the natural file processing workflow of radare2, making it difficult to detect and preventing users from simply avoiding suspicious files. The attack requires crafting a malicious PDB file with specially designed section names that contain newline characters, which then get interpreted as command separators during the processing of PE section headers.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization within the PDB parser's handling of section header names. When radare2 processes a PDB file using the idp command, it iterates through section headers and passes their names to the print_gvars() function without proper sanitization of special characters. The newline byte embedded in the PE section header name field triggers command injection because the parsing logic does not properly escape or validate these characters before they are processed as part of command execution. This flaw aligns with CWE-78, which describes improper neutralization of special elements used in OS commands, and specifically demonstrates how improper input handling in parsing components can lead to arbitrary code execution. The vulnerability operates at the intersection of software parsing and command execution, where the legitimate parsing of debugging information becomes a conduit for malicious command injection.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution, as it fundamentally undermines the security assumptions of reverse engineering tools that are commonly used in security research and malware analysis. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to execute arbitrary commands with the privileges of the user running radare2, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The attack vector is particularly insidious because it can be delivered through seemingly legitimate PDB files that users might encounter in normal reverse engineering workflows or during malware analysis. The vulnerability affects not only individual users but also security teams who rely on radare2 for analyzing potentially malicious files, as opening a crafted PDB file could automatically execute attacker-controlled commands. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in environments where security professionals regularly handle untrusted binary files or debug information from unknown sources.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2026-40499 must focus on both immediate remediation and long-term architectural improvements to prevent similar vulnerabilities. The primary solution involves upgrading to radare2 version 6.1.4 or later, which includes proper input validation and sanitization of section header names within the PDB parser. Organizations should implement strict file validation policies for PDB files, particularly those obtained from untrusted sources, and consider using automated tools to scan for potentially malicious content before processing. Security teams should also consider implementing sandboxing mechanisms when analyzing suspicious PDB files to isolate potential command execution. Additionally, the vulnerability highlights the need for comprehensive input validation in parsing components, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter, and emphasizing the importance of validating all input data before it enters the command execution pipeline. Regular security audits of parsing and processing components within reverse engineering tools should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other functions that may be susceptible to injection attacks.