FKIE_CVE-2026-54890
Vulnerability from fkie_nvd - Published: 2026-07-27 16:17 - Updated: 2026-08-10 20:25
Severity
Summary
Integer Underflow (Wrap or Wraparound) vulnerability in erlang otp erlang/otp (erts modules), erlang otp erts (erts modules) allows Forced Integer Overflow, Excessive Allocation. This vulnerability is associated with program files erts/emulator/beam/external.c, emulator/beam/external.c.
The BIT_BINARY_EXT tag (77) handler in the External Term Format (ETF) decoder accepts an encoding with both length and trailing-bits fields set to zero. The subsequent computation of the bitstring size underflows an unsigned integer, producing a value of roughly 2^64 that is then passed as a memory allocation size. The allocator aborts the entire node with a message such as "Cannot allocate 2305843009213693951 bytes of memory (of type binary)".
The crash is a VM-level abort, not an Erlang-level exception. It cannot be intercepted by supervision trees, by try/catch, or by passing the [safe] option to binary_to_term/2 (which only restricts atom creation and does not perform structural validation of binary encodings).
Any application that decodes ETF from untrusted sources via binary_to_term/1,2 or enif_binary_to_term() is exposed. The Erlang distribution protocol also decodes incoming terms through the same code path, but distribution is expected to run on trusted networks per the OTP Secure Coding Guidelines (DSG-011).
This issue affects OTP from OTP 27.0 before OTP 29.0.4, OTP 28.5.0.4 and OTP 27.3.4.15, corresponding to erts from 15.0 before 17.0.4, 16.4.0.4 and 15.2.7.11.
References
Impacted products
| Vendor | Product | Version | |
|---|---|---|---|
| erlang | erlang\/otp | * | |
| erlang | erlang\/otp | * | |
| erlang | erlang\/otp | * | |
| erlang | erts | * | |
| erlang | erts | * | |
| erlang | erts | * |
{
"affected": [
{
"affectedData": [
{
"cpes": [
"cpe:2.3:a:erlang:erlang\\/otp:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*"
],
"defaultStatus": "unaffected",
"modules": [
"erts"
],
"packageName": "erts",
"packageURL": "pkg:otp/erts?repository_url=https:%2F%2Fgithub.com%2Ferlang%2Fotp\u0026vcs_url=git%20https:%2F%2Fgithub.com%2Ferlang%2Fotp.git",
"product": "OTP",
"programFiles": [
"emulator/beam/external.c"
],
"programRoutines": [
{
"name": "erlang:binary_to_term/1"
},
{
"name": "erlang:binary_to_term/2"
}
],
"repo": "https://github.com/erlang/otp",
"vendor": "Erlang",
"versions": [
{
"changes": [
{
"at": "15.2.7.11",
"status": "unaffected"
},
{
"at": "16.4.0.4",
"status": "unaffected"
},
{
"at": "17.0.4",
"status": "unaffected"
}
],
"lessThan": "*",
"status": "affected",
"version": "15.0",
"versionType": "otp"
}
]
},
{
"collectionURL": "https://github.com",
"cpes": [
"cpe:2.3:a:erlang:erlang\\/otp:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*"
],
"defaultStatus": "unaffected",
"modules": [
"erts"
],
"packageName": "erlang/otp",
"packageURL": "pkg:github/erlang/otp",
"product": "OTP",
"programFiles": [
"erts/emulator/beam/external.c"
],
"programRoutines": [
{
"name": "erlang:binary_to_term/1"
},
{
"name": "erlang:binary_to_term/2"
}
],
"repo": "https://github.com/erlang/otp",
"vendor": "Erlang",
"versions": [
{
"changes": [
{
"at": "27.3.4.15",
"status": "unaffected"
},
{
"at": "28.5.0.4",
"status": "unaffected"
},
{
"at": "29.0.4",
"status": "unaffected"
}
],
"lessThan": "*",
"status": "affected",
"version": "27.0",
"versionType": "otp"
},
{
"lessThan": "dc1bf9344c0ce62717cf60866590cea0242780fd",
"status": "affected",
"version": "24ef4cbaeda9b9c26682cba75f2f15b0c58722aa",
"versionType": "git"
}
]
}
],
"source": "6b3ad84c-e1a6-4bf7-a703-f496b71e49db"
}
],
"configurations": [
{
"nodes": [
{
"cpeMatch": [
{
"criteria": "cpe:2.3:a:erlang:erlang\\/otp:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*",
"matchCriteriaId": "E7740717-E30D-4D4B-8226-037788AA2440",
"versionEndExcluding": "27.3.4.15",
"versionStartIncluding": "27.0",
"vulnerable": true
},
{
"criteria": "cpe:2.3:a:erlang:erlang\\/otp:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*",
"matchCriteriaId": "E5A403B9-F8C0-42F9-9CDD-AE95FBBA58BC",
"versionEndExcluding": "28.5.0.4",
"versionStartIncluding": "28.0",
"vulnerable": true
},
{
"criteria": "cpe:2.3:a:erlang:erlang\\/otp:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*",
"matchCriteriaId": "4325E198-43FA-4DD1-99A5-66705CF21615",
"versionEndExcluding": "29.0.4",
"versionStartIncluding": "29.0",
"vulnerable": true
},
{
"criteria": "cpe:2.3:a:erlang:erts:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*",
"matchCriteriaId": "11B1C890-908F-4DA6-BA70-903488089424",
"versionEndExcluding": "15.2.7.11",
"versionStartIncluding": "15.0",
"vulnerable": true
},
{
"criteria": "cpe:2.3:a:erlang:erts:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*",
"matchCriteriaId": "31D9076A-4078-4597-A518-12B6E55007B8",
"versionEndExcluding": "16.4.0.4",
"versionStartIncluding": "16.0",
"vulnerable": true
},
{
"criteria": "cpe:2.3:a:erlang:erts:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*",
"matchCriteriaId": "7EC53F68-5A92-4EF5-8789-1905C50D85BF",
"versionEndExcluding": "17.0.4",
"versionStartIncluding": "17.0",
"vulnerable": true
}
],
"negate": false,
"operator": "OR"
}
]
}
],
"cveTags": [],
"descriptions": [
{
"lang": "en",
"value": "Integer Underflow (Wrap or Wraparound) vulnerability in erlang otp erlang/otp (erts modules), erlang otp erts (erts modules) allows Forced Integer Overflow, Excessive Allocation. This vulnerability is associated with program files erts/emulator/beam/external.c, emulator/beam/external.c.\n\nThe BIT_BINARY_EXT tag (77) handler in the External Term Format (ETF) decoder accepts an encoding with both length and trailing-bits fields set to zero. The subsequent computation of the bitstring size underflows an unsigned integer, producing a value of roughly 2^64 that is then passed as a memory allocation size. The allocator aborts the entire node with a message such as \"Cannot allocate 2305843009213693951 bytes of memory (of type binary)\".\n\nThe crash is a VM-level abort, not an Erlang-level exception. It cannot be intercepted by supervision trees, by try/catch, or by passing the [safe] option to binary_to_term/2 (which only restricts atom creation and does not perform structural validation of binary encodings).\n\nAny application that decodes ETF from untrusted sources via binary_to_term/1,2 or enif_binary_to_term() is exposed. The Erlang distribution protocol also decodes incoming terms through the same code path, but distribution is expected to run on trusted networks per the OTP Secure Coding Guidelines (DSG-011).\n\nThis issue affects OTP from OTP 27.0 before OTP\u00a029.0.4, OTP\u00a028.5.0.4 and OTP\u00a027.3.4.15, corresponding to erts from 15.0 before 17.0.4, 16.4.0.4 and 15.2.7.11."
}
],
"id": "CVE-2026-54890",
"lastModified": "2026-08-10T20:25:42.790",
"metrics": {
"cvssMetricV31": [
{
"cvssData": {
"attackComplexity": "LOW",
"attackVector": "NETWORK",
"availabilityImpact": "HIGH",
"baseScore": 7.5,
"baseSeverity": "HIGH",
"confidentialityImpact": "NONE",
"integrityImpact": "NONE",
"privilegesRequired": "NONE",
"scope": "UNCHANGED",
"userInteraction": "NONE",
"vectorString": "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H",
"version": "3.1"
},
"exploitabilityScore": 3.9,
"impactScore": 3.6,
"source": "nvd@nist.gov",
"type": "Primary"
}
],
"cvssMetricV40": [
{
"cvssData": {
"Automatable": "NOT_DEFINED",
"Recovery": "NOT_DEFINED",
"Safety": "NOT_DEFINED",
"attackComplexity": "LOW",
"attackRequirements": "PRESENT",
"attackVector": "NETWORK",
"availabilityRequirement": "NOT_DEFINED",
"baseScore": 8.2,
"baseSeverity": "HIGH",
"confidentialityRequirement": "NOT_DEFINED",
"exploitMaturity": "NOT_DEFINED",
"integrityRequirement": "NOT_DEFINED",
"modifiedAttackComplexity": "NOT_DEFINED",
"modifiedAttackRequirements": "NOT_DEFINED",
"modifiedAttackVector": "NOT_DEFINED",
"modifiedPrivilegesRequired": "NOT_DEFINED",
"modifiedSubAvailabilityImpact": "NOT_DEFINED",
"modifiedSubConfidentialityImpact": "NOT_DEFINED",
"modifiedSubIntegrityImpact": "NOT_DEFINED",
"modifiedUserInteraction": "NOT_DEFINED",
"modifiedVulnAvailabilityImpact": "NOT_DEFINED",
"modifiedVulnConfidentialityImpact": "NOT_DEFINED",
"modifiedVulnIntegrityImpact": "NOT_DEFINED",
"privilegesRequired": "NONE",
"providerUrgency": "NOT_DEFINED",
"subAvailabilityImpact": "NONE",
"subConfidentialityImpact": "NONE",
"subIntegrityImpact": "NONE",
"userInteraction": "NONE",
"valueDensity": "NOT_DEFINED",
"vectorString": "CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:P/PR:N/UI:N/VC:N/VI:N/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:X/CR:X/IR:X/AR:X/MAV:X/MAC:X/MAT:X/MPR:X/MUI:X/MVC:X/MVI:X/MVA:X/MSC:X/MSI:X/MSA:X/S:X/AU:X/R:X/V:X/RE:X/U:X",
"version": "4.0",
"vulnAvailabilityImpact": "HIGH",
"vulnConfidentialityImpact": "NONE",
"vulnIntegrityImpact": "NONE",
"vulnerabilityResponseEffort": "NOT_DEFINED"
},
"source": "6b3ad84c-e1a6-4bf7-a703-f496b71e49db",
"type": "Secondary"
}
],
"ssvcV203": [
{
"source": "134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0",
"ssvcData": {
"id": "CVE-2026-54890",
"options": [
{
"exploitation": "none"
},
{
"automatable": "no"
},
{
"technicalImpact": "partial"
}
],
"role": "CISA Coordinator",
"timestamp": "2026-07-27T18:18:57.223218Z",
"version": "2.0.3"
}
}
]
},
"published": "2026-07-27T16:17:41.437",
"references": [
{
"source": "6b3ad84c-e1a6-4bf7-a703-f496b71e49db",
"tags": [
"Patch",
"Third Party Advisory"
],
"url": "https://cna.erlef.org/cves/CVE-2026-54890.html"
},
{
"source": "6b3ad84c-e1a6-4bf7-a703-f496b71e49db",
"tags": [
"Patch"
],
"url": "https://github.com/erlang/otp/commit/dc1bf9344c0ce62717cf60866590cea0242780fd"
},
{
"source": "6b3ad84c-e1a6-4bf7-a703-f496b71e49db",
"tags": [
"Vendor Advisory"
],
"url": "https://github.com/erlang/otp/security/advisories/GHSA-54pw-5645-jh86"
},
{
"source": "6b3ad84c-e1a6-4bf7-a703-f496b71e49db",
"tags": [
"Patch",
"Third Party Advisory"
],
"url": "https://osv.dev/vulnerability/EEF-CVE-2026-54890"
},
{
"source": "6b3ad84c-e1a6-4bf7-a703-f496b71e49db",
"tags": [
"Release Notes"
],
"url": "https://www.erlang.org/doc/system/versions.html#order-of-versions"
}
],
"sourceIdentifier": "6b3ad84c-e1a6-4bf7-a703-f496b71e49db",
"vulnStatus": "Analyzed",
"weaknesses": [
{
"description": [
{
"lang": "en",
"value": "CWE-191"
},
{
"lang": "en",
"value": "CWE-789"
},
{
"lang": "en",
"value": "CWE-1284"
}
],
"source": "6b3ad84c-e1a6-4bf7-a703-f496b71e49db",
"type": "Secondary"
}
]
}
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Experimental. This forecast is provided for visualization only and may change without notice. Do not use it for operational decisions.
Forecast uses a logistic model when the trend is rising, or an exponential decay model when the trend is falling. Fitted via linearized least squares.
Sightings
| Author | Source | Type | Date | Other |
|---|
Nomenclature
- Seen: The vulnerability was mentioned, discussed, or observed by the user.
- Confirmed: The vulnerability has been validated from an analyst's perspective.
- Published Proof of Concept: A public proof of concept is available for this vulnerability.
- Exploited: The vulnerability was observed as exploited by the user who reported the sighting.
- Patched: The vulnerability was observed as successfully patched by the user who reported the sighting.
- Not exploited: The vulnerability was not observed as exploited by the user who reported the sighting.
- Not confirmed: The user expressed doubt about the validity of the vulnerability.
- Not patched: The vulnerability was not observed as successfully patched by the user who reported the sighting.
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The MITRE ATT&CK techniques below are AI-generated suggestions, inferred from the description of the
vulnerability by the CIRCL/vulnerability-attack-technique-classification-roberta-base
model, served locally by ML-Gateway.
They have not been verified by an analyst and are provided for guidance only.
The approach is described in our paper Mapping CVEs to MITRE ATT&CK Techniques: A Curated Gold-Set Classifier and the Limits of LLM-Assisted Label Expansion.
The approach is described in our paper Mapping CVEs to MITRE ATT&CK Techniques: A Curated Gold-Set Classifier and the Limits of LLM-Assisted Label Expansion.
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