CVE-2025-69646 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_rnglists data. A logic error in the handling of the debug_rnglists header can cause objdump to repeatedly print the same warning message and fail to terminate, resulting in an unbounded logging loop until the process is interrupted. The issue was observed in binutils 2.44. A local attacker can exploit this vulnerability by supplying a malicious input file, leading to excessive CPU and I/O usage and preventing completion of the objdump analysis.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/12/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2025-69646 represents a critical denial-of-service flaw within the binutils suite, specifically affecting the objdump utility. This issue manifests when processing binary files containing malformed DWARF debug_rnglists data, creating a scenario where the tool enters an infinite loop of warning messages without proper termination. The vulnerability resides in the logic handling of debug_rnglists headers, where a fundamental flaw causes the system to continuously output identical warnings until external intervention occurs. This behavior fundamentally undermines the utility's intended operation and can lead to complete system resource exhaustion.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and error handling within the DWARF debug information processing subsystem. When objdump encounters malformed debug_rnglists data, the parsing logic fails to properly validate header structures and subsequently enters a loop where it repeatedly processes the same invalid data segment. This condition creates an unbounded logging cycle that consumes excessive CPU cycles and I/O resources. The vulnerability specifically affects binutils version 2.44, indicating that the flaw was introduced or became exploitable within this release cycle, potentially through changes in how debug information is parsed or validated.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to systems that rely on objdump for binary analysis, particularly in automated environments or security tools that depend on consistent processing times. Local attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious binary files containing malformed DWARF data, triggering the denial-of-service condition without requiring elevated privileges. The impact extends beyond simple resource exhaustion as the continuous logging can overwhelm system monitoring tools and potentially obscure legitimate security alerts. This vulnerability particularly affects development environments, security analysis platforms, and any system where objdump is used as part of automated workflows or continuous integration processes.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-835, which describes the weakness of an infinite loop in software, and demonstrates how improper error handling can lead to resource exhaustion conditions. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to technique T1499.004, which involves resource exhaustion via denial-of-service attacks, and could potentially be leveraged as part of broader attack chains targeting system availability. Organizations using binutils for security analysis, binary inspection, or debugging purposes should consider this vulnerability as a potential entry point for attackers seeking to disrupt system operations. The flaw represents a significant concern for security operations centers and development teams that depend on objdump for routine analysis tasks, as it can effectively halt critical workflows and consume system resources needed for legitimate operations.
Mitigation strategies should include immediate patching of affected binutils installations to version 2.45 or later, where the vulnerability has been addressed through improved input validation and error handling mechanisms. System administrators should implement monitoring for unusual CPU and I/O patterns when running objdump against unknown binary files, as this behavior can serve as an early detection mechanism for exploitation attempts. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing sandboxing or restricted execution environments for objdump operations, particularly when processing untrusted binary inputs. The vulnerability underscores the importance of robust input validation in security tools and highlights the need for comprehensive testing of debug information processing components to prevent similar issues in other utilities within the binutils suite.