CVE-2017-7224 in binutils
Summary
by MITRE
The find_nearest_line function in objdump in GNU Binutils 2.28 is vulnerable to an invalid write (of size 1) while disassembling a corrupt binary that contains an empty function name, leading to a program crash.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/03/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-7224 resides within the find_nearest_line function of objdump, a critical component of GNU Binutils version 2.28. This flaw represents a classic buffer overflow condition that occurs during the disassembly process of malformed binary files. The vulnerability specifically manifests when objdump encounters a corrupt binary containing an empty function name, creating a scenario where the software attempts to write data to an invalid memory location. This improper memory access pattern constitutes a direct violation of memory safety principles and falls under the CWE-787 category of out-of-bounds write vulnerabilities.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs during the normal operation of objdump when processing corrupted binary files that lack proper function naming conventions. The find_nearest_line function fails to properly validate input data before attempting to write to memory, specifically performing an invalid write operation of exactly one byte size. This type of memory corruption directly impacts the program's execution flow and can lead to unpredictable behavior including application crashes, denial of service conditions, or potentially more severe consequences if the corrupted memory location is part of critical program structures. The vulnerability demonstrates a fundamental lack of input validation and proper boundary checking within the binary analysis tool.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to security analysts and system administrators who rely on objdump for binary analysis and reverse engineering tasks. The crash condition can be easily triggered by simply processing a maliciously crafted binary file, making it a potential denial of service vector that could disrupt automated analysis workflows. Security professionals working with potentially compromised binaries may find their analysis tools failing unexpectedly, leading to operational disruptions in incident response scenarios. The vulnerability also represents a potential escalation path for attackers who might craft specific binary payloads designed to exploit this condition and cause system instability.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-7224 should prioritize immediate patching of affected GNU Binutils installations to version 2.29 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for this memory corruption issue. Organizations should implement strict input validation procedures for any binary files processed through objdump, including preliminary checks for malformed function names and other structural anomalies. Additionally, security teams should consider implementing sandboxed environments for binary analysis to prevent potential exploitation from affecting primary systems. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.006 for execution through command-line interfaces and demonstrates the importance of defensive programming practices in security tools. System administrators should also consider monitoring for unusual objdump crash patterns and implement automated alerting for potential exploitation attempts. Regular security updates and vulnerability assessments should include verification of binutils components to prevent similar issues from arising in other security tools that may be susceptible to similar memory corruption vulnerabilities.