# CVE-2026-96442: Emacs: emacs: arbitrary code execution in flymake mode

Status: published. Published: 2026-09-23. Updated: 2026-11-02.

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.

## Remediation

- workaround: To mitigate this issue, users should avoid opening or editing untrusted text files with Emacs. Exercise caution when handling files from unknown or suspicious sources, as interacting with them can lead to arbitrary code execution. (source: CNA: redhat)

## Affected products and versions

- GNU Emacs / GNU Emacs (emacs): ≥ 0; < 31.2 (affected, semver). Source: CNA: redhat
- Red Hat / Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10 (emacs): ≥ 1:29.4-14.el10_2.3; < * (unaffected, rpm). Source: CNA: redhat
- Red Hat / Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 (emacs): ≥ 1:26.1-15.el8_10.4; < * (unaffected, rpm). Source: CNA: redhat
- Red Hat / Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 (emacs): ≥ 1:27.2-18.el9_8.3; < * (unaffected, rpm). Source: CNA: redhat
- Red Hat / Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 (emacs): Version range not reported. Source: CNA: redhat
- Red Hat / Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 (emacs): Version range not reported. Source: CNA: redhat

## Severity and prioritization

- CVSS 3.1: 7.8 (high); CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H; source: CNA: redhat

- CISA KEV: No listing in collected sources

- EPSS: 0.20% as of 2026-11-01; percentile 10.02%

- SSVC: exploitation none; automatable no; technical impact total; source ADP: CISA-ADP

- Weaknesses: CWE-94

## Exploit evidence

No exploit evidence in collected sources. This is not proof of no exploitation.

## References

- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:84591 (CNA: redhat; vendor-advisory, x_refsource_REDHAT)

- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:85245 (CNA: redhat; vendor-advisory, x_refsource_REDHAT)

- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:90800 (CNA: redhat; vendor-advisory, x_refsource_REDHAT)

- https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2026-96442 (CNA: redhat; vdb-entry, x_refsource_REDHAT)

- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2537347 (CNA: redhat; issue-tracking, x_refsource_REDHAT)

- https://github.com/emacs-mirror/emacs/commit/135e6f63f08fee3d374fa1a5187bce941a2d3e3c (CNA: redhat)

- https://github.com/emacs-mirror/emacs/commit/abc802ee2eb0b1663349ddf22a461f8e54a383fb (CNA: redhat)

- https://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2026/09/14/1 (CNA: redhat)

## Provenance

- CNA: redhat: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-96442; retrieved 2026-11-02; source updated 2026-11-02

- FIRST EPSS: https://api.first.org/data/v1/epss?cve=CVE-2026-96442; retrieved 2026-11-02; source updated Not reported

Revision: 210a0b691740a667376cd45c8ad9915c9d968a1e67d0105a3968f975e86ccb24

Canonical: https://y2.dev/cve/CVE-2026-96442