CVE-2019-9075 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 a heap-based buffer overflow in _bfd_archive_64_bit_slurp_armap in archive64.c.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/16/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-9075 represents a critical heap-based buffer overflow within the Binary File Descriptor library, commonly known as BFD or libbfd, which forms a core component of the GNU Binutils suite version 2.32. This flaw exists in the _bfd_archive_64_bit_slurp_armap function located in the archive64.c source file, where improper bounds checking allows maliciously crafted archive files to trigger memory corruption during processing. The issue stems from insufficient validation of input data when parsing archive headers, specifically affecting 64-bit archive processing mechanisms that handle symbol table information within binary archives.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when the BFD library processes malformed archive files containing specially crafted armap sections that exceed expected buffer boundaries. The heap-based nature of the overflow means that the vulnerability can be leveraged to overwrite adjacent heap memory regions, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution or denial of service conditions. The flaw manifests during the parsing of archive symbol tables where the library allocates memory based on header values without adequate verification of whether these values exceed allocated buffer sizes. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-121 heap-based buffer overflow classification, which is particularly dangerous in binary processing utilities that handle untrusted input from various sources.
Operational impact of CVE-2019-9075 extends beyond simple exploitation scenarios, as the BFD library is extensively used throughout the GNU toolchain and various security tools that rely on binary analysis capabilities. Systems utilizing GNU Binutils 2.32 for tasks such as linking, archiving, or binary inspection become vulnerable to remote code execution when processing untrusted archive files, including those embedded in software packages, firmware updates, or security analysis tools. The vulnerability affects not only direct users of binutils but also applications that depend on BFD for processing binary content, creating a widespread attack surface that could be exploited in supply chain attacks or privilege escalation scenarios. Attackers could craft malicious archive files that, when processed by vulnerable systems, would trigger the buffer overflow condition and potentially allow for arbitrary code execution with the privileges of the executing process.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2019-9075 primarily focus on immediate remediation through software updates, as the GNU project released patched versions of Binutils that address the buffer overflow condition by implementing proper bounds checking and input validation. Organizations should prioritize updating to Binutils 2.33 or later versions where the vulnerability has been resolved through code modifications that ensure adequate buffer size verification before memory allocation. Additionally, defensive measures include implementing input sanitization for archive files, particularly when processing untrusted content, and employing sandboxing techniques to limit the impact of potential exploitation. Security monitoring should focus on detecting unusual binary processing activities and implementing proper access controls to prevent unauthorized execution of vulnerable tools. The vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for binary exploitation and T1553.004 for code signing bypasses, as exploitation could enable attackers to execute malicious code within systems that rely on vulnerable BFD processing capabilities.