CVE-2026-6390
A flaw was found in GNU nano's multi-buffer error message handling. When a user opens multiple files at startup and one triggers an ALERT-level error, a specially crafted filename containing printf format specifiers can be reinterpreted. This format string vulnerability may allow an attacker to achieve stack information disclosure, cause a denial of service (crash), or potentially perform arbitrary memory writes.
CSIRTS triage
- What
- There is a format string vulnerability in error handling that can lead to arbitrary memory writes, information disclosure, or denial of service.
- Who is affected
- Deployments of gnu nano are affected.
- Urgency
- Remediation is medium urgency due to the potential for exploitation, though it has not been reported as exploited yet.
- Action
- Update to the latest version of gnu nano to mitigate the vulnerability.
AI-assisted analysis generated from the source advisory — verify against the original.
⚡ Watch CVE-2026-6390
Get an email if CVE-2026-6390 is added to CISA KEV, gains public exploit code, or a new advisory cites it — max one per day, one-click unsubscribe.
Exploitation outlook
- Low exploitation risk0.11% 30-day exploitation probability — currently an unlikely target, but scores change as exploit code circulates. Riskier than 1% of all EPSS-scored CVEs.
Advisory coverage (2)
External references
Embed the live status
— this badge updates automatically when the KEV or exploit status changes. How to embed it →
[](https://www.csirts.com/cve/CVE-2026-6390)