Read the docs
TI-2026-71336 Aliases CVE-2026-103658

Heap-based buffer overflow in GNU Aspell read-only dictionary loader

Priority MEDIUM 60CWE-122Published · Updated

Key facts

Attack vector
Local
Privileges required
None
User interaction
None
Attack complexity
Low
Impact type
—
Confidentiality · integrity · availability
Low · Low · Low
Fix status
Partial Red Hat: 3 fixed, 3 without a fix

Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CNA. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat.

Summary

GNU Aspell from 0.60.8.2 (the first vulnerable version is not known) has a heap-based buffer overflow (CWE-122) in its read-only dictionary loader. A signed integer overflow in the buffer size check lets a large length wrap negative, so the buffer is not grown and attacker-controlled data is written past it. A local attacker who induces a victim to load a crafted dictionary file can corrupt heap memory, causing denial of service and potentially code execution.

Written with Claude Haiku 5.5 from the sources below · 2026-10-30

Description from the CNA

GNU Aspell 0.60.8.2 (first vulnerable version is not known) contains a heap-based buffer overflow write (CWE-122) in its read-only dictionary loader. String::reserve() in common/string.hpp computes its capacity check with a signed int ((int)s + 1), so a requested size of 0x7FFFFFFF wraps negative and the backing buffer is never grown. ReadOnlyDict::load() in modules/speller/default/readonly_ws.cpp passes the unvalidated 32-bit size fields from a .rws dictionary header into this path, so a crafted .rws file with a valid endian marker (12345678) and an oversized length field (e.g. lang_name_size = 0x7FFFFFFF) causes attacker-controlled data to be written out of bounds past an undersized heap allocation. An attacker who induces a victim to load a malicious dictionary — for example via aspell dump master <file> — can corrupt heap memory, resulting in denial of service and potentially code execution. Fixed in b830b6e and will be fixed in release 0.60.8.3.

Why it matters now

Exploitation Proof of concept CISA SSVC · not in CISA KEV
EPSS 0.00213 11th percentileScored 2026-11-07
Fix Partial Red Hat: 2 advisoriesRed Hat: 3 fixed, 3 without a fix

SSVC decision points

CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3

Exploitation
Poc
Automatable
No
Technical impact
Partial

The decision (Track, Attend, Act) also depends on your mission and well-being impact; see CISA's SSVC guide.

Affected products

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed inStatusSource
GNUAspell0.60.8.2—No fix listedCNA
  • Aspell VendorGNU Affected 0.60.8.2 Fixed in — No fix listed CNA

Remediation

The sources list no fixed version for GNU Aspell, but the fix is in commit b830b6e and will ship in release 0.60.8.3. Red Hat fixes this in RHSA-2026:92615 for Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream and CRB 8, and in RHSA-2026:92458 for CodeReady Linux Builder 9. Red Hat has no plan available for Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10, 6 and 7.

Written with Claude Haiku 5.5 from the sources below · 2026-10-30

Red Hat 2 advisories

  • RHSA-2026:92615 Released 2026-10-29 · Red Hat rating Important
    aspell security update
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 8) aspell-12:0.60.6.1-23.el8_10
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux CRB (v. 8) aspell-devel-12:0.60.6.1-23.el8_10
  • RHSA-2026:92458 Released 2026-10-29 · Red Hat rating Important
    aspell security update
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux CodeReady Linux Builder (v. 9) aspell-12:0.60.8-9.el9_8, aspell-devel-12:0.60.8-9.el9_8

Vendor assessments

Red Hat

Red Hat rating: Important. Red Hat's page for this CVE →

ProductStatusPlan or fix
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10AffectedNo fix yet
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6AffectedNo fix yet
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7AffectedNo fix yet
Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 8)Fixed RHSA-2026:92615
Red Hat Enterprise Linux CRB (v. 8)Fixed RHSA-2026:92615
Red Hat Enterprise Linux CodeReady Linux Builder (v. 9)Fixed RHSA-2026:92458

Timeline

  1. 2026-10-12 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-103658
  2. 2026-10-13 Title updated · CNA
  3. 2026-10-13 Affected versions changed · CNA
  4. 2026-10-13 Affected versions changed · Red Hat
  5. 2026-10-13 CVSS score added · Red Hat
  6. 2026-10-13 Priority changed: MEDIUM → LOW
  7. 2026-10-15 CISA SSVC decision points changed
  8. 2026-10-15 Priority changed: LOW → MEDIUM
  9. 2026-10-30 Fix available: RHSA-2026:92458 · Red Hat
  10. 2026-10-30 Fix available: RHSA-2026:92615 · Red Hat
  11. 2026-10-30 Fix available: Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 8), Red Hat Enterprise Linux CRB (v. 8), Red Hat Enterprise Linux CodeReady Linux Builder (v. 9) · Red Hat

References

Other 1

  • TI-2026-19388 telnetd in GNU Inetutils through 2.7 allows remote authentication bypass via a "-f root"… KEVCVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
  • TI-2014-05975 GNU Bash through 4.3 bash43-025 processes trailing strings after certain malformed… KEVCVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
  • TI-2014-05157 GNU Bash through 4.3 processes trailing strings after function definitions in the values… KEVCVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
  • TI-2014-05164 GNU Bash through 4.3 bash43-026 does not properly parse function definitions in the… KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
  • TI-2023-04522 Glibc: buffer overflow in ld.so leading to privilege escalation KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 7.8
  • TI-2009-03392 The TLS protocol, and the SSL protocol 3.0 and possibly earlier, as used in Microsoft… CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
See all 1272 →

Sources

This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences