CVE-2026-120809: Use-After-Free (CVSS 6.8)

Description

A use-after-free read issue exists in MongoDB’s SBE (Slot-Based Execution) engine when processing aggregation pipelines with $unwind on time-series collections. An internal error in state-preservation logic can cause a value still referenced by downstream stages to have its underlying memory freed prematurely. An authenticated user can craft an aggregation pipeline under specific conditions to trigger this condition, potentially reading recycled server heap memory in query results or crashing the server. This issue is only triggerable when a non-default server parameter related to the SBE engine is enabled.

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CVSS v3.1 Score

6.8

MEDIUM

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

EPSS — Exploit Prediction

0.0037

Probability of exploitation

0.31%

Percentile rank

EPSS estimates the probability that this vulnerability will be exploited in the wild within the next 30 days. A higher score means more likely to be exploited.

Weakness Type (CWE)

CWE-416 Use After Free

References

Other References

https://jira.mongodb.org/browse/SERVER-132279

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2026-120809? +

A use-after-free read issue exists in MongoDB’s SBE (Slot-Based Execution) engine when processing aggregation pipelines with $unwind on time-series collections. An internal error in state-preservation logic can cause a value still referenced by downstream stages to have its underlying memory freed prematurely. An authenticated user can craft an aggregation pipeline under specific conditions to trigger this condition, potentially reading recycled server heap memory in query results or crashing the server. This issue is only triggerable when a non-default server parameter related to the SBE engine is enabled. It has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 6.8 (MEDIUM).

How severe is CVE-2026-120809? +

CVE-2026-120809 has a CVSS v3.1 score of 6.8 out of 10, rated MEDIUM. This is a medium-severity vulnerability that should be remediated as part of regular maintenance. The EPSS score is 0.0037, placing it in the 0th percentile for exploitation probability.

How do I check if I'm vulnerable to CVE-2026-120809? +

You can use Secably's free Website Scanner to check your website for known vulnerabilities. For infrastructure scanning, use the Port Scanner to identify exposed services that may be affected. Check the vendor advisories linked above for specific patch and version information.

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