# Elasticsearch 8.19.19, 9.3.8, 9.4.4 Security Update (ESA-2026-75)

**URL:** <https://discuss.elastic.co/t/elasticsearch-8-19-19-9-3-8-9-4-4-security-update-esa-2026-75/389496>\
**Category:** Security Announcements\
**Created:** [August 13, 2026, 10:46am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/elasticsearch-8-19-19-9-3-8-9-4-4-security-update-esa-2026-75/389496 "2026-08-13T10:46:50Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![ikakavas](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/user_avatar/discuss.elastic.co/ikakavas/32/34430_2.png) [@ikakavas](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/ikakavas)\
**Post date:** [August 13, 2026, 10:46am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/elasticsearch-8-19-19-9-3-8-9-4-4-security-update-esa-2026-75/389496/1 "2026-08-13T10:46:50Z")

</div>

**Uncontrolled Recursion in Elasticsearch Leading to Denial of Service**

A flaw in Elasticsearch allows an authenticated user with the privileges required to invoke the [simulate pipeline API endpoint](https://www.elastic.co/docs/api/doc/elasticsearch/operation/operation-ingest-simulate) to submit a request that causes a self-referential data structure to be created. When a specific internal component later processes that structure, the operation recurses without bound and raises a fatal error that is not handled by the surrounding execution path, terminating the affected node process and resulting in a denial of service.

**Affected Versions:**

> - All versions from 5.0.0 up to and including 8.19.18
> - All versions from 9.3.0 up to and including 9.3.7
> - All versions from 9.4.0 up to and including 9.4.3

**Affected Configurations:**

> - All configurations are affected.

**Solutions and Mitigations:**

The issue is resolved in version 8.19.19, 9.3.8 and 9.4.4.

**For Users that Cannot Upgrade:**  
There are no workarounds for this vulnerability.

**Indicators of Compromise (IOC)**

There are no IOCs for this vulnerability.

**Elastic Cloud Serverless**

Due to our continuous deployment and patching model, the vulnerability described in this security advisory was remediated in our Elastic Cloud Serverless offering before the public disclosure.

**Severity:** CVSSv3.1: Medium ( 6.5 ) - CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H  
**CVE ID:** CVE-2026-72683  
**Problem Type:** CWE-674 - Uncontrolled Recursion