Elastic Elasticsearch up to 8.17.9 ES|QL Query Processing memory allocation

CVSS Meta Temp Score
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Current Exploit Price (≈)
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CTI Interest Score
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4.3$0-$5k0.50

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability identified as problematic has been detected in Elastic Elasticsearch up to 8.17.9. Affected by this issue is some unknown functionality of the component ES|QL Query Processing. This manipulation causes memory allocation. This vulnerability is tracked as CVE-2026-72656. The attack is possible to be carried out remotely. No exploit exists.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Elastic Elasticsearch up to 8.17.9. It has been declared as problematic. Affected by this vulnerability is some unknown functionality of the component ES|QL Query Processing. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a memory allocation vulnerability. The CWE definition for the vulnerability is CWE-789. The product allocates memory based on an untrusted, large size value, but it does not ensure that the size is within expected limits, allowing arbitrary amounts of memory to be allocated. As an impact it is known to affect availability. The summary by CVE is:

Memory Allocation with Excessive Size Value (CWE-789) in the ES|QL query processing of Elasticsearch can lead to denial of service via Excessive Allocation (CAPEC-130). An authenticated user able to submit ES|QL queries could send a specially crafted query whose evaluation allocates an unbounded amount of heap memory, exhausting the available heap on the receiving node and causing the node to become unavailable.

The advisory is shared at discuss.elastic.co. This vulnerability is known as CVE-2026-72656 since 08/10/2026. The exploitation appears to be easy. The attack can be launched remotely. Neither technical details nor an exploit are publicly available.

There is no information about possible countermeasures known. It may be suggested to replace the affected object with an alternative product.

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Productinfo

Vendor

Name

Version

License

CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 4.3
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 4.3

VulDB Base Score: 4.3
VulDB Temp Score: 4.3
VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv2info

AVACAuCIA
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VectorComplexityAuthenticationConfidentialityIntegrityAvailability
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VulDB Base Score: 🔒
VulDB Temp Score: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

Exploitinginfo

Class: Memory allocation
CWE: CWE-789 / CWE-400 / CWE-404
CAPEC: 🔒
ATT&CK: 🔒

Physical: No
Local: No
Remote: Yes

Availability: 🔒
Status: Not defined
Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔒

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Threat Intelligenceinfo

Interest: 🔍
Active Actors: 🔍
Active APT Groups: 🔍

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: no mitigation known
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔒

Timelineinfo

08/10/2026 CVE reserved
08/13/2026 +3 days Advisory disclosed
08/13/2026 +0 days VulDB entry created
08/13/2026 +0 days VulDB entry last update

Sourcesinfo

Advisory: discuss.elastic.co
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2026-72656 (🔒)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2026-72656
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-389797

Entryinfo

Created: 08/13/2026 21:55
Changes: 08/13/2026 21:55 (52)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

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