# Elasticsearch 8.19.20, 9.4.5 Security Update (ESA-2026-81)

**URL:** <https://discuss.elastic.co/t/elasticsearch-8-19-20-9-4-5-security-update-esa-2026-81/389501>\
**Category:** Security Announcements\
**Created:** [August 13, 2026, 10:47am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/elasticsearch-8-19-20-9-4-5-security-update-esa-2026-81/389501 "2026-08-13T10:47:06Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

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**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-security-update-esa-2026-81/389501/1 "2026-08-13T10:47:06Z")

</div>

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

Elasticsearch does not apply its configurable input length restriction to a user-supplied pattern accepted by an intervals query. Compiling a deeply nested pattern drives unbounded recursion that exhausts the thread stack and raises a fatal error, terminating the Elasticsearch node process and causing a denial of service for that node. An authenticated user holding only read-only privileges on a single searchable index can trigger the condition with one small search request.

**Affected Versions:**

> - All versions from 8.19.0 up to and including 8.19.19
> - All versions from 9.0.0 up to and including 9.4.4

**Affected Configurations:**

> - All configurations are affected

**Solutions and Mitigations:**

The issue is resolved in version 8.19.20 and 9.4.5.

**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-2026-72679  
**Problem Type:** CWE-674 - Uncontrolled Recursion