CVE-2022-47696 in Binutils
Summary
by MITRE • 08/22/2023
An issue was discovered Binutils objdump before 2.39.3 allows attackers to cause a denial of service or other unspecified impacts via function compare_symbols.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/27/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-47696 resides within the binutils package, specifically within the objdump utility which is a critical component for disassembling and displaying information about object files. This flaw manifests in the function named compare_symbols which is responsible for sorting and comparing symbol entries within binary files. The issue affects versions of binutils prior to 2.39.3, making it a significant concern for systems that rely on these tools for binary analysis, debugging, and reverse engineering operations. The vulnerability represents a classic example of a denial of service condition that can be exploited through crafted input to the objdump utility, potentially disrupting workflows that depend on this essential toolchain component.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper handling of symbol comparison logic within the objdump utility's internal functions. When the compare_symbols function processes certain symbol entries, it fails to properly validate input parameters or handle edge cases in symbol ordering, leading to potential infinite loops, stack overflows, or other memory corruption scenarios. This flaw falls under the category of software defects that can be classified as CWE-121, heap-based buffer overflow, or CWE-672, operation on a resource after it has been released, depending on the specific execution path taken during symbol processing. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it can be triggered through normal usage patterns when objdump encounters malformed or specially crafted binary files, making it a reliable vector for disruption attacks.
The operational impact of CVE-2022-47696 extends beyond simple denial of service to potentially compromise entire development and analysis workflows that depend on binutils tools. System administrators and security professionals who rely on objdump for debugging applications, analyzing malware, or performing reverse engineering tasks face the risk of their systems becoming unresponsive or crashing when processing maliciously crafted files. This vulnerability can be exploited in automated environments where batch processing of binaries occurs, leading to cascading failures across multiple systems. The attack surface is particularly broad since objdump is a fundamental tool in the GNU toolchain used across numerous operating systems and development environments, making this vulnerability relevant to a wide range of users and organizations. The potential for this vulnerability to be leveraged as part of a broader attack chain aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for execution through command and scripting interpreter, where attackers might use the denial of service to disrupt system availability.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2022-47696 primarily involve upgrading to binutils version 2.39.3 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the symbol comparison logic. Organizations should prioritize patching their systems, particularly those that frequently process binary files or use objdump in automated workflows. Additional defensive measures include implementing proper input validation when processing binary files, using sandboxed environments for analysis, and monitoring for unusual system behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts. Security teams should also consider implementing network segmentation to limit the impact of potential exploitation and maintain updated threat intelligence on similar vulnerabilities in the toolchain. The vulnerability highlights the importance of keeping development tools updated and demonstrates how seemingly minor flaws in utility functions can have significant operational implications across the entire software development lifecycle.