CVE-2017-7227 in binutils
Summary
by MITRE
GNU linker (ld) in GNU Binutils 2.28 is vulnerable to a heap-based buffer overflow while processing a bogus input script, leading to a program crash. This relates to lack of '\0' termination of a name field in ldlex.l.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/04/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-7227 affects GNU linker version 2.28 within the GNU Binutils suite, representing a critical heap-based buffer overflow condition that can be exploited through malicious input script processing. This flaw exists in the lexical analysis component of the linker where the ldlex.l file fails to properly terminate name fields with null characters, creating a condition where buffer boundaries can be exceeded during input parsing operations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation within the lexical analyzer responsible for processing linker script files. When the GNU linker encounters a malformed input script containing specially crafted name fields, the absence of proper null termination in ldlex.l allows memory access beyond allocated buffer boundaries. This memory corruption manifests as a heap-based buffer overflow, which fundamentally disrupts the program execution flow and results in an immediate program crash without any possibility of graceful error handling.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to software development environments and build systems that rely on GNU Binutils for linking operations. Attackers capable of influencing the input to the linker through malicious script files could potentially cause denial of service conditions that disrupt legitimate build processes, particularly in automated continuous integration environments where linker execution is frequent and critical. The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal privileges and can be triggered through normal input processing pathways, making it particularly concerning for widespread deployment scenarios.
The vulnerability maps directly to CWE-121, which describes heap-based buffer overflow conditions, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.004 for resource exhaustion attacks where system stability is compromised through memory corruption. This classification indicates that the vulnerability represents a fundamental flaw in memory management practices within the lexical analyzer component, where proper bounds checking and null termination protocols have not been implemented to prevent memory access violations during input processing.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-7227 should prioritize immediate patching of affected GNU Binutils installations to version 2.29 or later where the buffer overflow handling has been corrected. Organizations should implement input validation measures for linker script processing to prevent untrusted or malformed input from reaching the linker component. Additionally, system administrators should consider implementing monitoring solutions to detect unusual linker behavior patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, while maintaining regular security updates to address similar vulnerabilities in related toolchain components.