---
id: CVE-2026-96269
title: >-
  GNU Emacs 28.1 through 31.1 allows arbitrary code execution upon opening a
  file, because an untrusted value of read-symbol-shorthands affects the intern
  and unintern functions
summary: >-
  GNU Emacs 28.1 through 31.1 allows arbitrary code execution upon opening a
  file, because an untrusted value of read-symbol-shorthands affects the intern
  and unintern functions. This affects the default configuration; no particular
  user s…
severity: high
cvss: 7.5
cvssVector: 'CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:P/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N'
cwe:
  - CWE-829
vendor: GNU
product: Emacs
affected:
  - Emacs >= 28.1 <= 31.1
published: '2026-09-22'
updated: '2026-09-24'
sourceUpdated: '2026-09-24T21:00:46.893'
source: NVD
sourceUrl: 'https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-96269'
references:
  - url: 'https://debbugs.gnu.org/cgi/bugreport.cgi?bug=80574#227'
    label: cve@mitre.org
  - url: >-
      https://yhetil.org/emacs/jwvtsph1aoj.fsf-monnier+emacs@gnu.org/T/#m319545e835fb71d764bf868166632d4633167a75
    label: cve@mitre.org
  - url: >-
      https://eshelyaron.com/posts/2026-08-06-emacs-arbitrary-code-execution-returns.html
    label: af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108
  - url: 'https://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2026/08/20/3'
    label: af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108
tags:
  - nvd
  - cve.org
epss: 0.00191
epssPercentile: 0.07735
ssvc:
  exploitation: none
  automatable: 'no'
  technicalImpact: total
  timestamp: '2026-09-22T20:47:44.364030Z'
cvssSource: cna
ingestedAt: '2026-09-22T21:11:40.321Z'
---

## Overview

GNU Emacs 28.1 through 31.1 allows arbitrary code execution upon opening a file, because an untrusted value of read-symbol-shorthands affects the intern and unintern functions. This affects the default configuration; no particular user settings are required to trigger it.

## Remediation

Refer to the linked advisories for vendor-supplied fixes and affected version ranges.