CVE-2026-96442
Emacs: emacs: arbitrary code execution in flymake mode
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What happened?
A code execution flaw was found in Emacs, affecting versions prior to 31.2. The Flymake mode using language backends other than Lisp would execute arbitrary code from the edited file while performing syntax checking. Viewing or editing untrusted files using Emacs could lead to arbitrary code execution with the privileges of the user running Emacs.
Affected software and versions
| Software | Version information | Fixed version |
|---|---|---|
| emacsGNU Emacs | affected: 0 to < 31.2 | See vendor advisory |
| emacsRed Hat | unaffected: 1:29.4-14.el10_2.3 to < * | See vendor advisory |
| emacsRed Hat | unaffected: 1:26.1-15.el8_10.4 to < * | See vendor advisory |
| emacsRed Hat | unaffected: 1:26.1-15.el8_10.4 to < * | See vendor advisory |
| emacsRed Hat | unaffected: 1:27.2-18.el9_8.3 to < * | See vendor advisory |
| emacsRed Hat | Default status: unknown | See vendor advisory |
| emacsRed Hat | Default status: affected | See vendor advisory |
Version information comes from the source record and can include unaffected products and exceptions. Distribution packages may contain backported fixes: an older upstream version alone does not prove a server is affected.
Is it being exploited?
This CVE was not listed in the CISA catalogue at our last retrieval. This does not establish that exploitation is absent.
How to respond
- Confirm the product, installed package version, and any configuration requirements in the vendor advisory.
- Follow the vendor’s remediation or workaround guidance in the references below. Structured fixed-version data is unavailable here; the publisher’s description may include a fix or workaround.
- Restart affected services if required, then verify the running version. Known exploitation may warrant investigation as well as patching.
Sources and remediation references
- https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-96442
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:84591
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:85245
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:90800
- https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2026-96442
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2537347
- https://github.com/emacs-mirror/emacs/commit/135e6f63f08fee3d374fa1a5187bce941a2d3e3c
- https://github.com/emacs-mirror/emacs/commit/abc802ee2eb0b1663349ddf22a461f8e54a383fb
- https://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2026/09/14/1