---
title: "CVE-2026-89161: PCRE2 - Use After Free"
description: "PCRE2 < 10.48 contains a use after free caused by mishandling a previously copied subject passed as context in pcre2_jit_match, letting attackers cause memory corruption, exploit requires crafted input."
url: https://panop.io/threat-heartbeat/CVE-2026-89161/
---

# CVE-2026-89161 PCRE2 - Use After Free

PCRE2 < 10.48 contains a use after free caused by mishandling a previously copied subject passed as context in pcre2\_jit\_match, letting attackers cause memory corruption, exploit requires crafted input.

CVSS base score 7.4 /10

High

CISA KEV

Not listed

Public exploit

None known

Authentication

Not required

EPSS

0.13% chance of exploitation in 30 days

[View the NVD record ↗](https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-89161)

## Details

Type

Use After Free

Impact

Denial Of Service

CVSS vector

CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Published

11 September 2026

Updated

15 October 2026

Weakness

[CWE-590](https://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/590.html)

## Vendor fix

Update to version 10.48 or later.

Patching closes this CVE. It does not tell you which of your systems run the affected version, or what else is exposed alongside them.

## References

- [https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-89161](https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-89161)
- [https://github.com/PCRE2Project/pcre2/pull/937](https://github.com/PCRE2Project/pcre2/pull/937)
- [https://github.com/PCRE2Project/pcre2/releases/tag/pcre2-10.48](https://github.com/PCRE2Project/pcre2/releases/tag/pcre2-10.48)

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## What this record can't tell you

- Whether you run the affected software, and where
- Whether an attacker can actually reach and exploit it
- The misconfigurations that never get a CVE number
- What it would cost the business, ranked into what to fix first

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