CVE-2017-14974 in binutils
Summary
by MITRE
The *_get_synthetic_symtab functions in the Binary File Descriptor (BFD) library (aka libbfd), as distributed in GNU Binutils 2.29, mishandle the failure of a certain canonicalization step, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (NULL pointer dereference and application crash) via a crafted ELF file, related to elf32-i386.c and elf64-x86-64.c.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/30/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-14974 resides within the Binary File Descriptor (BFD) library, a core component of GNU Binutils version 2.29. This flaw manifests in the *_get_synthetic_symtab functions that process ELF (Executable and Linkable Format) files, specifically affecting the elf32-i386.c and elf64-x86-64.c modules. The issue stems from inadequate error handling during a canonicalization step, creating a condition where a NULL pointer dereference can occur when processing malformed input files. This represents a classic denial of service vulnerability that can be exploited remotely through crafted ELF files, making it particularly concerning for systems that process untrusted binary content.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the BFD library's failure to properly validate or handle errors during the canonicalization process of ELF file structures. When a specially crafted ELF file is processed, the canonicalization step fails to establish proper memory references, leading to a NULL pointer dereference in the *_get_synthetic_symtab functions. This failure occurs in the context of x86 architecture processing, specifically affecting both 32-bit and 64-bit ELF file formats, which means the attack surface is broad across different system configurations. The vulnerability demonstrates a clear lack of defensive programming practices in error handling, where the library assumes successful completion of canonicalization without proper validation of the operation's outcome.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-14974 extends beyond simple service disruption, as it can affect any application or system that relies on BFD for binary file analysis, including security tools, malware analysis frameworks, and system utilities. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by crafting malicious ELF files that trigger the NULL pointer dereference, causing applications to crash and potentially leading to system instability. This vulnerability is particularly dangerous in automated environments where file processing occurs without manual intervention, as it can result in cascading failures across dependent services. The remote exploitability aspect means that systems processing ELF files from untrusted sources, such as file upload systems or automated analysis platforms, become vulnerable to this attack vector.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-14974 should focus on immediate patching of affected GNU Binutils installations to version 2.30 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for the canonicalization error handling. System administrators should also implement input validation controls and sandboxing mechanisms when processing ELF files from untrusted sources. Additionally, monitoring systems should be configured to detect application crashes or unexpected behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-476, which describes NULL pointer dereference conditions, and represents a failure in the ATT&CK framework's defensive measures against denial of service attacks through malformed input processing. Organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure of systems that process binary files, while maintaining regular vulnerability assessments to identify similar issues in other components of their software supply chain.