CVE-2019-9072 in binutils
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in the Binary File Descriptor (BFD) library (aka libbfd), as distributed in GNU Binutils 2.32. It is an attempted excessive memory allocation in setup_group in elf.c.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/03/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-9072 represents a critical memory allocation issue within the Binary File Descriptor library, commonly known as BFD or libbfd, which is a core component of the GNU Binutils package version 2.32. This library serves as a foundational element for various binary manipulation tools including objdump, nm, and ld, making it a critical dependency across numerous software development and security analysis workflows. The flaw specifically manifests in the setup_group function located within the elf.c source file, where the library attempts to allocate excessive memory resources during the processing of ELF (Executable and Linkable Format) binary files.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and memory management within the BFD library's handling of ELF file structures. When processing malformed or specially crafted ELF files, the setup_group function fails to properly constrain memory allocation requests, potentially leading to excessive memory consumption that can result in denial of service conditions. This flaw operates under the category of memory corruption vulnerabilities, specifically relating to improper handling of resource allocation within binary file parsing routines. The vulnerability can be classified under CWE-772, which describes "Missing Release of Resource after Effective Lifetime," and falls within the broader category of memory management issues that can lead to system instability or resource exhaustion attacks.
The operational impact of CVE-2019-9072 extends significantly beyond simple denial of service scenarios, as it affects the core functionality of numerous security tools and development environments that rely on BFD for binary analysis. Systems utilizing GNU Binutils 2.32 may become vulnerable to resource exhaustion attacks when processing untrusted binary inputs, potentially affecting software development environments, security analysis platforms, and automated binary inspection tools. This vulnerability is particularly concerning in environments where automated processing of binary files occurs, such as in malware analysis systems, continuous integration pipelines, or security scanning tools that may inadvertently process maliciously crafted ELF files. The attack surface is broad as any application that depends on BFD for processing ELF binaries could be affected, including various security tools, debuggers, and binary analysis frameworks.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2019-9072 primarily focus on updating to patched versions of GNU Binutils, specifically versions 2.33 and later, which contain the necessary fixes to properly constrain memory allocation during ELF file processing. Organizations should implement comprehensive patch management procedures to ensure all systems utilizing GNU Binutils are updated promptly, as this vulnerability can be exploited remotely through untrusted binary input processing. Additional defensive measures include implementing input validation and sanitization for binary files processed by systems relying on BFD functionality, as well as monitoring for unusual memory consumption patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability aligns with techniques involving resource exhaustion and denial of service, potentially enabling adversaries to disrupt system availability through carefully crafted binary inputs. The vulnerability also intersects with defensive techniques related to input validation and memory management, emphasizing the importance of proper resource handling in security-critical binary processing components.