CVE-2026-4046
Assertion Failure in GNU C Library iconv() Causes Remote Crash
Publication date: 2026-03-30
Last updated on: 2026-04-20
Assigner: GNU C Library
Description
Description
CVSS Scores
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Meta Information
Affected Vendors & Products
| Vendor | Product | Version / Range |
|---|---|---|
| gnu | glibc | to 2.43 (inc) |
Helpful Resources
Exploitability
| CWE ID | Description |
|---|---|
| CWE-617 | The product contains an assert() or similar statement that can be triggered by an attacker, which leads to an application exit or other behavior that is more severe than necessary. |
Attack-Flow Graph
AI Powered Q&A
How does this vulnerability affect compliance with common standards and regulations (like GDPR, HIPAA)?:
The vulnerability in the iconv() function of the GNU C Library may cause application crashes due to assertion failures when converting certain character sets. However, it does not directly impact confidentiality, integrity, or availability of data in a way that would affect compliance with standards like GDPR or HIPAA.
Since the vulnerability leads to potential denial of service (application crash) but does not result in data leakage or unauthorized access, its effect on compliance with data protection regulations is minimal.
Mitigation by removing the affected character sets can prevent crashes, thereby maintaining system availability, which is a component of compliance frameworks.
Can you explain this vulnerability to me?
The vulnerability exists in the iconv() function of the GNU C Library versions 2.43 and earlier. It may cause the function to crash due to an assertion failure when converting inputs from the IBM1390 or IBM1399 character sets.
This crash can be triggered remotely, potentially causing an application using this function to stop working unexpectedly.
How can this vulnerability impact me? :
This vulnerability can lead to a denial of service condition by crashing applications that use the iconv() function when processing certain character sets (IBM1390 or IBM1399).
An attacker could exploit this remotely to cause an application to crash, potentially disrupting service availability.
What immediate steps should I take to mitigate this vulnerability?
This vulnerability can be trivially mitigated by removing the IBM1390 and IBM1399 character sets from systems that do not need them.