Ghidra before 12.1 contains a heap-use-after-free vulnerability in the decompiler's HighVariable::merge() function during the variable merging pass. Attackers can trigger this vulnerability by crafting a binary that causes stale pointers in the HighIntersectTest::highedgemap cache to be dereferenced, reading and writing the flags field of freed heap memory when a user opens the binary in Ghidra's decompiler view.

Attack Vector Local

Attack Complexity Low

Privileges Required None

Attack Requirements None

User Interaction Active

Vulnerable System Confidentiality Impact None

Vulnerable System Integrity Impact Low

Vulnerable System Availability Impact Low

Subsequent System Confidentiality Impact None

Subsequent System Integrity Impact None

Subsequent System Availability Impact None

Attack Vector Local

Attack Complexity Low

Privileges Required None

Scope Unchanged

Confidentiality Impact None

Integrity Impact Low

Availability Impact Low

User Interaction Required

No CVSS v3.0

No CVSS v2

This CVE is not in the KEV list.

No EPSS score available.

Key SSVC decision points have not yet been added.

Default status is the baseline for the product, each version can override it (e.g. patched versions marked unaffected).

Vendor Product Default status Versions
nationalsecurityagency ghidra unaffected
Version Status Constraints
0 affected < 12.1
12.1 unaffected —

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Advisories

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Fixes

Solution

No solution given by the vendor.

Workaround

No workaround given by the vendor.

References
Link Providers
https://github.com/NationalSecurityAgency/ghidra/security/advisories/GHSA-8jqp-qv73-395r cve-icon cve-icon cve-icon
https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/ghidra-heap-use-after-free-in-highvariable-merge-during-decompilation cve-icon cve-icon
History

Wed, 10 Jun 2026 17:30:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics ssvc

{'options': {'Automatable': 'no', 'Exploitation': 'poc', 'Technical Impact': 'partial'}, 'version': '2.0.3'}

Wed, 10 Jun 2026 13:30:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description Ghidra before 12.1 contains a heap-use-after-free vulnerability in the decompiler's HighVariable::merge() function during the variable merging pass. Attackers can trigger this vulnerability by crafting a binary that causes stale pointers in the HighIntersectTest::highedgemap cache to be dereferenced, reading and writing the flags field of freed heap memory when a user opens the binary in Ghidra's decompiler view.
Title Ghidra < 12.1 - Heap-use-after-free in HighVariable::merge() during decompilation
First Time appeared Nsa
Nsa ghidra
Weaknesses CWE-416
CPEs cpe:2.3:a:nsa:ghidra:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
Vendors & Products Nsa
Nsa ghidra
References
Metrics cvssV3_1

{'score': 4.4, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:L'}

cvssV4_0

{'score': 4.6, 'vector': 'CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:A/VC:N/VI:L/VA:L/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N'}

Projects

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cve-icon MITRE

Status: PUBLISHED

Assigner: VulnCheck

Published:

Updated: 2026-06-10T16:31:45.453Z

Reserved: 2026-06-08T15:20:09.274Z

Link: CVE-2026-52757

cve-icon Vulnrichment

Updated: 2026-06-10T16:20:09.075Z

cve-icon NVD

Status : Received

Published: 2026-06-10T14:16:36.027

Modified: 2026-06-10T17:16:42.683

Link: CVE-2026-52757

cve-icon Redhat

No data.

cve-icon OpenCVE Enrichment

Updated: 2026-06-10T15:00:13Z

Weaknesses