# Elasticsearch 8.19.20, 9.4.5, 9.5.1 Security Update (ESA-2026-116)

**URL:** <https://discuss.elastic.co/t/elasticsearch-8-19-20-9-4-5-9-5-1-security-update-esa-2026-116/389502>\
**Category:** Security Announcements\
**Created:** [August 13, 2026, 10:47am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/elasticsearch-8-19-20-9-4-5-9-5-1-security-update-esa-2026-116/389502 "2026-08-13T10:47:09Z")\
**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, 10:47am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/elasticsearch-8-19-20-9-4-5-9-5-1-security-update-esa-2026-116/389502/1 "2026-08-13T10:47:09Z")

</div>

**Memory Allocation with Excessive Size Value in Elasticsearch Leading to Denial of Service**

Memory Allocation with Excessive Size Value (CWE-789) in Elasticsearch can lead to denial of service via Excessive Allocation (CAPEC-130). An authenticated user holding only read privileges on a single index can submit one small, specially crafted search request that causes an excessively large memory allocation, exhausting the JVM heap and terminating the affected node.

**Affected Versions:**

> - 8.x: All versions from 8.0.0 up to and including 8.19.19
> - 9.x:

- All versions from 9.0.0 up to and including 9.4.4
- Version 9.5.0

**Affected Configurations:**

All configurations are affected.

**Solutions and Mitigations:**

The issue is resolved in versions 8.19.20, 9.4.5, and 9.5.1.

**For Users that Cannot Upgrade:**

There are no workarounds for this vulnerability.

**Indicators of Compromise (IOC)**

No specific indicators of compromise have been identified 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-2026-72645  
**Problem Type:** CWE-789 - Memory Allocation with Excessive Size Value  
**Impact:** CAPEC-130 - Excessive Allocation
