CVE-2015-8750 in libdwarf
Summary
by MITRE
libdwarf 20151114 and earlier allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (NULL pointer dereference and crash) via a debug_abbrev section marked NOBITS in an ELF file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/14/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-8750 affects libdwarf versions up to and including 20151114, representing a critical denial of service flaw that can be exploited remotely. This issue arises from improper handling of debug information within ELF files, specifically when encountering a debug_abbrev section that is marked as NOBITS. The libdwarf library serves as a crucial component for parsing and processing debug information in executable files, making it a prime target for attackers seeking to disrupt system operations through carefully crafted malformed input.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from a NULL pointer dereference condition that occurs when the library attempts to process a debug_abbrev section that has been designated as NOBITS within an ELF file structure. According to CWE-476, this represents a NULL pointer dereference vulnerability where the application fails to validate pointer references before attempting to access memory locations. The flaw manifests when the libdwarf parser encounters a section that should not contain executable data but is processed as if it does, leading to a crash when the code attempts to dereference a null pointer during the parsing operation.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to systems that rely on libdwarf for debugging and analysis purposes. Attackers can exploit this flaw by crafting malicious ELF files containing specially formatted debug_abbrev sections marked as NOBITS, which when processed by vulnerable applications can result in complete system crashes or service disruptions. The impact extends beyond simple denial of service as it can affect any application that utilizes libdwarf for processing debug information, including development tools, system monitoring applications, and security analysis frameworks. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.001, which involves network denial of service attacks through resource exhaustion or process termination.
The exploitation of this vulnerability requires minimal privileges and can be executed remotely, making it particularly dangerous in networked environments where systems process untrusted ELF files. Systems running vulnerable versions of libdwarf are at risk when handling debug information from external sources, such as software packages, system updates, or user uploads. The lack of proper input validation in the debug section processing logic creates an opportunity for attackers to craft malicious inputs that trigger the NULL pointer dereference, leading to application crashes and potential system instability.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-8750 primarily involve upgrading to libdwarf version 20151115 or later, which contains the necessary patches to properly handle debug_abbrev sections marked as NOBITS. Organizations should also implement robust input validation measures when processing ELF files, particularly in environments where untrusted input is processed. Additional defensive measures include implementing network segmentation to limit exposure, deploying intrusion detection systems to monitor for exploitation attempts, and establishing regular patch management procedures to ensure all vulnerable components are updated. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper error handling in security-critical libraries and underscores the necessity of thorough testing of edge cases in debug information processing routines.