CVE-2017-8394 in binutils
Summary
by MITRE
The Binary File Descriptor (BFD) library (aka libbfd), as distributed in GNU Binutils 2.28, is vulnerable to an invalid read of size 4 due to NULL pointer dereferencing of _bfd_elf_large_com_section. This vulnerability causes programs that conduct an analysis of binary programs using the libbfd library, such as objcopy, to crash.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/04/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-8394 resides within the Binary File Descriptor library, commonly known as BFD or libbfd, which is a core component of the GNU Binutils suite. This library serves as a fundamental tool for handling various binary file formats and is extensively utilized by numerous security analysis tools, development utilities, and system administration programs. The specific flaw manifests in version 2.28 of the GNU Binutils distribution, where the BFD library fails to properly validate pointer references during the processing of certain binary file structures. The vulnerability specifically targets the _bfd_elf_large_com_section variable, which represents a critical internal data structure used for managing large common sections in elf binary formats. This particular memory management issue occurs when the library attempts to read a 4-byte value from a memory location that has not been properly initialized, leading to a NULL pointer dereference condition that fundamentally compromises the stability of applications relying on this library.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through a specific code path that involves the analysis of binary programs using the libbfd library functions. When applications such as objcopy attempt to process certain malformed or specially crafted binary files, the library's handling of the _bfd_elf_large_com_section variable triggers the invalid read operation. This condition results in a crash of the affected program due to the segmentation fault generated by accessing invalid memory addresses. The vulnerability demonstrates characteristics consistent with a classic null pointer dereference pattern, where the code attempts to access memory through a pointer that has not been properly allocated or initialized. The issue is particularly concerning because it affects core system utilities that are widely used across different operating systems and development environments, making it a significant threat to system stability and potentially exploitable in certain contexts where attackers could leverage the crash conditions for denial of service attacks or potentially more sophisticated exploitation techniques.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates substantial risk for systems that rely heavily on binary analysis tools and the BFD library for security operations, software development, and system maintenance activities. The crash condition affects not only the specific utility that encounters the malformed input but can also impact broader system stability when these tools are integrated into automated workflows, build systems, or security scanning processes. The impact extends beyond simple program termination as the vulnerability can be leveraged by malicious actors to disrupt services through denial of service attacks, particularly in environments where automated binary analysis is performed on untrusted input files. The vulnerability's classification aligns with CWE-476, which specifically addresses NULL pointer dereference conditions in software systems. Security analysts and system administrators must consider the implications of this flaw when implementing security controls, as the potential for cascading failures exists when multiple tools depend on the same vulnerable library component.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-8394 focus primarily on updating the affected GNU Binutils installation to a patched version that addresses the NULL pointer dereference condition in the BFD library. The recommended approach involves upgrading to GNU Binutils version 2.29 or later, where the memory management issue has been resolved through proper pointer validation and initialization procedures. System administrators should also implement input validation measures when processing binary files through affected tools, particularly in environments where untrusted input is handled. Additional protective measures include monitoring for abnormal program crashes, implementing sandboxing techniques for binary analysis operations, and ensuring that security tools are regularly updated to prevent exploitation of known vulnerabilities. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under the software exploitation domain, specifically relating to the use of memory corruption vulnerabilities for system compromise. Organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation and access controls to limit the potential impact of any exploitation attempts, while maintaining regular vulnerability assessments to identify and remediate similar issues in their software supply chain components.