CVE-2017-7226 in binutils
Summary
by MITRE
The pe_ILF_object_p function in the Binary File Descriptor (BFD) library (aka libbfd), as distributed in GNU Binutils 2.28, is vulnerable to a heap-based buffer over-read of size 4049 because it uses the strlen function instead of strnlen, leading to program crashes in several utilities such as addr2line, size, and strings. It could lead to information disclosure as well.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/03/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-7226 resides within the Binary File Descriptor (BFD) library, a critical component of GNU Binutils version 2.28 that serves as a foundational library for handling various binary file formats. This flaw manifests in the pe_ILF_object_p function which processes Portable Executable (PE) files commonly found on Windows systems. The vulnerability represents a classic heap-based buffer over-read condition that occurs when the function improperly handles string length calculations during file processing operations. The root cause stems from the implementation's reliance on the strlen function rather than the safer strnlen function, creating a scenario where memory beyond the intended buffer boundaries can be accessed.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when BFD attempts to parse PE file headers and encounters malformed or specially crafted input data. The function processes data structures without proper bounds checking, allowing an attacker to manipulate the input in such a way that strlen continues reading memory until it encounters a null terminator, potentially accessing 4049 bytes of memory beyond the intended buffer. This over-read condition manifests as program crashes in multiple utilities that depend on BFD functionality including addr2line which translates addresses to file names and line numbers, size which reports the section sizes of object files, and strings which extracts printable character sequences from files. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple crashes to potentially enable information disclosure attacks where sensitive memory contents could be exposed to unauthorized parties.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-126, which describes "Buffer Over-read" conditions where programs access memory beyond the boundaries of allocated buffers, and also relates to CWE-20, "Improper Input Validation," as the function fails to properly validate input data before processing. The operational impact of this vulnerability affects users of GNU Binutils across multiple platforms where these utilities are employed for software development, debugging, and system administration tasks. Attackers could leverage this weakness in scenarios involving processing untrusted binary files, potentially leading to denial of service conditions or information leakage that might reveal system memory contents including cryptographic keys, passwords, or other sensitive data. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this as a software exploitation technique under the T1059.007 sub-technique for "Command and Scripting Interpreter: PowerShell" when considering how such vulnerabilities might be chained with other attacks to compromise systems.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-7226 require immediate patching of GNU Binutils to version 2.29 or later where the implementation has been corrected to use strnlen instead of strlen for proper bounds checking. System administrators should also implement input validation measures when processing binary files from untrusted sources, particularly in environments where these utilities are used for analyzing suspicious files or malware samples. Additionally, organizations should consider deploying runtime protections such as address space layout randomization and stack canaries to reduce the effectiveness of potential exploitation attempts. Regular security auditing of binary processing utilities and maintaining updated toolchains remains essential for preventing similar vulnerabilities from impacting system security postures.