CVE-2025-69645 in Binutils
Summary
by MITRE • 03/06/2026
Binutils objdump contains a denial-of-service vulnerability when processing a crafted binary with malformed DWARF debug information. A logic error in the handling of DWARF compilation units can result in an invalid offset_size value being used inside byte_get_little_endian, leading to an abort (SIGABRT). The issue was observed in binutils 2.44. A local attacker can trigger the crash by supplying a malicious input file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/12/2026
The vulnerability CVE-2025-69645 represents a critical denial-of-service flaw within the binutils package, specifically affecting the objdump utility. This issue manifests when processing binary files containing malformed DWARF debug information, which is commonly found in compiled executables and object files. The vulnerability resides in the DWARF compilation unit handling logic where a fundamental logic error occurs during the parsing of debug information structures. The flaw is particularly concerning because it affects a widely used tool in software development and debugging environments, making it a potential target for attackers seeking to disrupt system operations or exploit debugging workflows.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from an improper validation of offset_size values within the DWARF debug information processing pipeline. When objdump encounters a crafted binary with malformed DWARF data, the logic error causes an invalid offset_size value to be passed to the byte_get_little_endian function. This function expects valid offset parameters but receives corrupted data that leads to memory access violations. The specific function call chain results in an abort signal (SIGABRT) being generated, causing the objdump utility to terminate unexpectedly. This behavior aligns with CWE-129, which addresses improper validation of offsets, and CWE-128, which covers out-of-bounds read conditions that can lead to application crashes.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption as it can affect developers and system administrators who rely on objdump for debugging and analysis tasks. A local attacker with the ability to provide malicious input files can trigger the crash, potentially causing legitimate debugging operations to fail or requiring system restarts to restore functionality. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous in automated build and testing environments where objdump may be invoked programmatically, as it can cause entire CI/CD pipelines to fail. This issue affects binutils version 2.44, indicating that recent versions of the toolchain are susceptible to this type of denial-of-service attack, making it a widespread concern across development environments that utilize these debugging utilities.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on both immediate patching and operational hardening measures. The primary solution involves updating to a patched version of binutils that addresses the DWARF parsing logic error and properly validates offset_size values before processing. Organizations should also implement input validation controls when processing binary files, particularly in environments where third-party or untrusted binaries may be analyzed. Security teams should monitor for potential exploitation attempts and consider implementing sandboxing or restricted execution environments for debugging utilities. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1499.004, which covers network denial of service attacks, and T1595.001, which addresses reconnaissance through active scanning. The vulnerability demonstrates how seemingly benign debugging tools can become attack vectors when not properly secured against malformed input data, highlighting the importance of robust input validation in system utilities.