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.
Fix
Patch, vendor advisory and mitigation references on NVD 2
- https://github.com/NationalSecurityAgency/ghidra/security/advisories/GHSA-8jqp-qv73-395r Exploit, Vendor Advisory
- https://github.com/NationalSecurityAgency/ghidra/security/advisories/GHSA-8jqp-qv73-395r Exploit, Vendor Advisory
Every line above is quoted from NVD, CISA, Microsoft, the vendor's own advisory or DISA; nothing is generated.
Change history 1
- First seenCVSS 4.6 · nsaNVD modified 2026-10-26 11:10
Affected (CPE criteria) 1
cpe:2.3:a:nsa:ghidra:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
References 3
- https://github.com/NationalSecurityAgency/ghidra/security/advisories/GHSA-8jqp-qv73-395r Exploit, Vendor Advisory
- https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/ghidra-heap-use-after-free-in-highvariable-merge-during-decompilation Third Party Advisory
- https://github.com/NationalSecurityAgency/ghidra/security/advisories/GHSA-8jqp-qv73-395r Exploit, Vendor Advisory