# CVE-2026-19548: Binutils: binutils: multiple use-after-free in add_archive_element via lto plugin processing

> A use-after-free in the GNU linker allows attackers to cause denial of service or potentially execute code via crafted object files during LTO-enabled builds.

- **Severity:** Medium 5.5 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** A user has to click or open something
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 12 Aug 2026
- **Updated:** 14 Oct 2026
- **Also known as:** AZL-95892, DEBIAN-CVE-2026-19548, ECHO-4612-02ee-2b3e, GHSA-j77f-3ffj-4jg4, RHSA-2026:82359, UBUNTU-CVE-2026-19548

## What is CVE-2026-19548?

CVE-2026-19548 is a medium-severity use after free vulnerability in Redhat Enterprise Linux, published on 12 Aug 2026. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.

### Official description

Multiple Use-After-Free vulnerabilities were found in the add_archive_element function in ld/ldmain.c of the GNU linker (ld), a component of binutils. The root cause is that plugin_maybe_claim() in ld/plugin.c frees the original BFD object via bfd_close/_bfd_delete_bfd when entry->the_bfd->my_archive == NULL, but the caller retains both the original abfd parameter and a shallow copy (orig_input.the_bfd) as dangling pointers. These dangling pointers are subsequently dereferenced at three distinct locations in add_archive_element:

1. Line ~1442: accessing abfd->my_archive via bfd_usrdata(abfd->my_archive)
2. Line ~1493: multiple accesses to abfd and abfd->my_archive in a conditional check and bfd_get_filename call
3. Line ~1525: dereferencing the shallow copy orig_input.the_bfd->my_archive in trace/verbose logging

The vulnerability is triggered when LTO plugins are active (link_info.lto_plugin_active is true) and the input object has abfd->my_archive == NULL, which is a valid state for standalone object files. Red Hat builds binutils with --enable-plugins and --enable-lto, confirming the vulnerable code path is compiled in and reachable.

An attacker who can supply a crafted object or archive file to a build process using LTO-enabled linking could exploit this flaw to cause a denial of service (linker crash via segmentation fault). Arbitrary code execution is theoretically possible through heap manipulation but is substantially mitigated by hardening measures including stack protector, FORTIFY_SOURCE, ASLR, and PIE.

The attack surface is limited to build-time environments — the linker is a development tool not exposed in production runtime. The most realistic exploitation scenario is a supply chain attack introducing a crafted object file as a build dependency in CI/CD pipelines or development environments.

Weakness: CWE-416 (Use After Free)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-19548?

It affects 3 products.


| Package | Ecosystem | Affected | Fixed in |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `binutils` | Red Hat:hummingbird:1 | All versions | 0:2.46.1-1.4.hum1 |
| `binutils-devel` | Red Hat:hummingbird:1 | All versions | 0:2.46.1-1.4.hum1 |
| `binutils-gold` | Red Hat:hummingbird:1 | All versions | 0:2.46.1-1.4.hum1 |
| `binutils-gprofng` | Red Hat:hummingbird:1 | All versions | 0:2.46.1-1.4.hum1 |

Products: Redhat Enterprise Linux, Redhat Hardened Images, Redhat Openshift Container Platform.

## How do I fix CVE-2026-19548?

Apply the vendor's patch.

## Is CVE-2026-19548 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-19548 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Redhat Enterprise Linux

- [CVE-2018-14667](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-14667/): Red Hat JBoss RichFaces Framework Expression Language Injection (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2021-20325](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-20325/): Missing fixes for CVE-2021-40438 and CVE-2021-26691 in the versions of httpd, as shipped in Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8.5.0, causes a securit (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2018-25011](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-25011/): Memory corruption in libwebp (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2018-25014](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-25014/): Other in libwebp (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2014-3585](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2014-3585/): Supply chain in redhat-upgrade-tool (critical 9.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2026-19548 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2026-19548 is a medium-severity use after free vulnerability in Redhat Enterprise Linux, published on 12 Aug 2026. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-19548 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Redhat Enterprise Linux. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-19548/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-19548/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-19548
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-19548
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2026-19548

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-19548/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.