CVE-2017-8397 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 1 and an invalid write of size 1 during processing of a corrupt binary containing reloc(s) with negative addresses. This vulnerability causes programs that conduct an analysis of binary programs using the libbfd library, such as objdump, to crash.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/04/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-8397 affects the Binary File Descriptor library commonly known as BFD or libbfd which is a core component of GNU Binutils 2.28. This library serves as a fundamental interface for handling various binary file formats including executables, object files, and libraries across different architectures. The BFD library is extensively utilized by numerous security analysis tools and development utilities that process binary content, making this vulnerability particularly concerning for the cybersecurity community. The flaw manifests when the library processes corrupted binary files containing relocation entries with negative addresses, which can occur during malicious payload crafting or accidental file corruption scenarios.
The technical nature of this vulnerability involves an invalid read of size 1 and an invalid write of size 1 within the BFD library's processing routines. These memory access violations occur specifically when the library attempts to handle relocation entries that possess negative address values, which violates the expected address space constraints for binary file processing. The invalid read operation attempts to access memory at an address that is either unmapped or outside the valid memory boundaries, while the invalid write operation attempts to write data to a location that cannot be properly accessed or modified. This type of memory corruption vulnerability directly relates to CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions, and CWE-787, which covers out-of-bounds write conditions. The vulnerability exists in the library's relocation processing logic where it fails to properly validate address ranges before attempting memory operations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple program crashes, as it can be exploited in various attack scenarios that leverage the widespread use of BFD-based tools. When programs such as objdump, readelf, or other utilities that depend on libbfd encounter malformed binary files with negative relocation addresses, they will experience segmentation faults or memory corruption that results in application termination. This crash behavior can be particularly problematic in automated security analysis systems, forensic tools, or build environments where binary file processing is routine. The vulnerability demonstrates a classic denial-of-service attack vector that can be leveraged by adversaries to disrupt security analysis workflows or to prevent legitimate binary analysis operations from completing successfully. Attackers can craft malicious binary files that contain negative relocation addresses to trigger these memory access violations, potentially causing cascading failures in security toolchains that rely on BFD processing capabilities.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-8397 should focus on both immediate remediation and long-term architectural improvements. The primary and most effective solution involves updating to GNU Binutils version 2.29 or later, where the vulnerability has been addressed through proper validation of relocation addresses and enhanced error handling routines. Organizations should implement comprehensive patch management processes to ensure all systems utilizing BFD-based tools receive the necessary updates. Additionally, defensive programming practices should be implemented in applications that process binary files, including input validation, memory bounds checking, and proper error handling for malformed binary content. Security teams should consider implementing sandboxing or containerization for binary analysis tools to limit the potential impact of exploitation attempts. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of following secure coding practices that align with ATT&CK framework techniques such as T1059 for execution through command-line interfaces and T1203 for exploitation of vulnerabilities in software libraries. Organizations should conduct regular security assessments of their binary analysis toolchains to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities that may exist in other components of their cybersecurity infrastructure.