CVE-2025-1181 in Binutils
Summary
by MITRE • 02/11/2025
A vulnerability classified as critical was found in GNU Binutils 2.43. This vulnerability affects the function _bfd_elf_gc_mark_rsec of the file bfd/elflink.c of the component ld. The manipulation leads to memory corruption. The attack can be initiated remotely. The complexity of an attack is rather high. The exploitation appears to be difficult. The exploit has been disclosed to the public and may be used. The name of the patch is 931494c9a89558acb36a03a340c01726545eef24. It is recommended to apply a patch to fix this issue.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/31/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2025-1181 represents a critical memory corruption flaw within GNU Binutils version 2.43, specifically within the linker component ld. This issue resides in the _bfd_elf_gc_mark_rsec function located in bfd/elflink.c, making it a core component of the binary linking process that handles ELF (Executable and Linkable Format) files. The flaw manifests during the garbage collection phase of linking operations where the linker attempts to identify and mark sections that should remain in the final executable. This function processes relocation sections and their associated metadata during the linking process, creating a potential attack surface when malformed input is processed.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper memory handling within the garbage collection mechanism of the ELF linker. When the _bfd_elf_gc_mark_rsec function processes certain input patterns, it fails to properly validate memory boundaries or handle pointer arithmetic correctly, leading to memory corruption conditions. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions, or more specifically CWE-787, which addresses out-of-bounds write conditions. The memory corruption occurs during the linking phase when the tool processes complex relocation information, potentially allowing attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations or corrupt critical data structures within the linker process.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it enables remote code execution capabilities when exploited through the ld linker component. The attack complexity is rated as high due to the specialized nature of the exploitation requirements, which typically involves crafting specific malformed ELF files that can trigger the vulnerable code path during linking operations. However, the fact that public exploitation techniques have been disclosed increases the practical threat level, as attackers can leverage existing tools or modify them to target systems using affected versions of GNU Binutils. The vulnerability's exploitation difficulty rating reflects the need for specific conditions and potentially sophisticated attack vectors, though the public disclosure reduces the barrier to implementation.
The attack vector for CVE-2025-1181 can be initiated remotely through the manipulation of input files that are processed by the ld linker component. This typically occurs when developers or build systems process untrusted ELF files or when attackers can influence the linking process through supply chain attacks. The vulnerability's presence in the linker component means that any system using GNU Binutils 2.43 for building or processing executables could be at risk, particularly in development environments, continuous integration systems, or build servers that process third-party libraries. The memory corruption can potentially lead to arbitrary code execution within the context of the linker process, which could allow attackers to gain elevated privileges or compromise the build environment.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should prioritize immediate patch application, with the recommended fix being the implementation of the patch identified by the commit hash 931494c9a89558acb36a03a340c01726545eef24. Organizations should also implement strict input validation for any ELF files processed through the linking stage, particularly in automated build environments where third-party libraries or code may be integrated. Additional protective measures include isolating build environments, implementing sandboxing for linking operations, and monitoring for unusual linking behavior or memory access patterns that could indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability's classification as critical within the ATT&CK framework would place it under the T1059.007 technique category for execution through system binaries, with potential lateral movement implications through compromised build systems. System administrators should also consider implementing network segmentation to limit access to build servers and development environments that process untrusted code, reducing the attack surface for potential exploitation of this memory corruption vulnerability.