CVE-2014-8503 in binutils
Summary
by MITRE
Stack-based buffer overflow in the ihex_scan function in bfd/ihex.c in GNU binutils 2.24 and earlier allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (crash) and possibly have other unspecified impact via a crafted ihex file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/24/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-8503 represents a critical stack-based buffer overflow flaw within the ihex_scan function of GNU binutils version 2.24 and earlier releases. This issue specifically resides in the bfd/ihex.c source file, which handles Intel Hexadecimal object file format processing. The vulnerability manifests when the binary utility processes malformed ihex files, creating a condition where attacker-controlled input can overwrite adjacent stack memory regions. Such buffer overflow conditions typically occur when the program fails to properly validate input lengths against allocated buffer boundaries, allowing arbitrary data to be written beyond intended memory limits.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability enables remote attackers to trigger a denial of service condition by crafting specially formatted ihex files that cause the affected binutils utilities to crash upon processing. The stack-based nature of the overflow means that the program's execution flow becomes corrupted as stack memory containing return addresses, local variables, and function parameters gets overwritten. This can result in unpredictable program behavior ranging from immediate crashes to potential code execution in scenarios where the overflow is carefully crafted to overwrite critical execution pointers. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple denial of service as the unspecified additional consequences could include privilege escalation or information disclosure depending on the execution context and system configuration.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability affects any system utilizing GNU binutils versions prior to 2.25 where ihex file processing occurs, which includes embedded systems development environments, firmware analysis tools, and various software development workflows that rely on hex file parsing capabilities. The attack vector is particularly concerning as it requires no special privileges beyond the ability to create or access ihex files, making it exploitable in scenarios where users might process untrusted binary data. The vulnerability's classification aligns with CWE-121 Stack-based Buffer Overflow, which specifically addresses buffer overflows occurring in stack memory regions. This flaw also maps to ATT&CK technique T1203, which covers Exploitation for Client Execution, as it represents a classic buffer overflow vulnerability that can be exploited to gain unauthorized access to systems through client-side processing of malicious files.
The recommended mitigations include immediate upgrading to GNU binutils version 2.25 or later, which contains the patched ihex_scan function that properly validates input lengths against buffer boundaries. Organizations should also implement defensive programming practices such as input validation, stack canaries, and address space layout randomization to reduce the impact of similar vulnerabilities. Additionally, system administrators should restrict processing of untrusted ihex files through sandboxed environments or automated scanning systems that can detect and quarantine potentially malicious input before it reaches the vulnerable binutils components. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining up-to-date software libraries and the critical need for proper input validation in binary processing utilities that handle user-supplied data formats.