CVE-2018-17358 in binutils
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in the Binary File Descriptor (BFD) library (aka libbfd), as distributed in GNU Binutils 2.31. An invalid memory access exists in _bfd_stab_section_find_nearest_line in syms.c. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to cause a denial of service (application crash) via a crafted ELF file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/17/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-17358 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 interface for handling various binary file formats including object files, executables, and archives. The flaw manifests specifically in the _bfd_stab_section_find_nearest_line function located in the syms.c source file, representing a critical memory access violation that affects the processing of debugging information within ELF (Executable and Linkable Format) files. The issue stems from improper validation of section headers and symbol table entries when the library attempts to locate the nearest line number information for debugging purposes.
The technical nature of this vulnerability constitutes a memory access error that occurs during the parsing of STAB (Stabs) debugging sections within ELF files. When the _bfd_stab_section_find_nearest_line function processes malformed or crafted input data, it fails to properly validate pointer references and array bounds, leading to an invalid memory access pattern that typically results in a segmentation fault or application crash. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-125 vulnerability category, which specifically addresses out-of-bounds read conditions, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for execution through command-line interface. The flaw demonstrates characteristics of a buffer over-read or improper input validation where the BFD library does not adequately check the legitimacy of debugging section data before attempting to access memory locations.
Operationally, this vulnerability presents a significant denial of service risk to systems that utilize the GNU Binutils for processing binary files, particularly in automated build systems, security analysis tools, or any environment that handles untrusted ELF files. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious ELF files containing malformed STAB debugging sections that trigger the vulnerable code path when the BFD library attempts to analyze or display debugging information. The impact extends beyond simple crashes as it can be leveraged in broader attack scenarios where adversaries might use this vulnerability to disrupt services or as part of a multi-stage attack strategy. Systems running versions of GNU Binutils 2.31 are particularly at risk, as this vulnerability was present in that specific release and affected numerous applications and tools that depend on BFD functionality for binary file processing.
The mitigation strategy for CVE-2018-17358 primarily involves upgrading to a patched version of GNU Binutils where the memory access validation has been properly implemented. The fix typically requires implementing proper bounds checking and input validation within the _bfd_stab_section_find_nearest_line function to prevent access to invalid memory regions. Organizations should also consider implementing additional defensive measures such as sandboxing binary file analysis processes, validating file integrity before processing, and monitoring for unusual memory access patterns in systems that handle binary files. Security teams should prioritize patching this vulnerability in environments where untrusted binary files are processed, as the denial of service impact can significantly affect system availability and operational continuity. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input validation in cryptographic and binary processing libraries, as these components often serve as foundational elements in security tooling and development environments.