GNU binutils up to 2.29 libbfd bfd/nlmcode.h nlm_swap_auxiliary_headers_in out-of-bounds

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability marked as critical has been reported in GNU binutils up to 2.29. This affects the function nlm_swap_auxiliary_headers_in of the file bfd/nlmcode.h of the component libbfd. The manipulation leads to out-of-bounds. This vulnerability is listed as CVE-2017-12458. The attack must be carried out locally. There is no available exploit.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability, which was classified as critical, has been found in GNU binutils up to 2.29 (Programming Tool Software). This issue affects the function nlm_swap_auxiliary_headers_in of the file bfd/nlmcode.h of the component libbfd. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a out-of-bounds vulnerability. Using CWE to declare the problem leads to CWE-125. The product reads data past the end, or before the beginning, of the intended buffer. Impacted is confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The summary by CVE is:

The nlm_swap_auxiliary_headers_in function in bfd/nlmcode.h in the Binary File Descriptor (BFD) library (aka libbfd), as distributed in GNU Binutils 2.29 and earlier, allows remote attackers to cause an out of bounds heap read via a crafted nlm file.

The bug was discovered 07/26/2017. The weakness was presented 08/04/2017 (Website). It is possible to read the advisory at sourceware.org. The identification of this vulnerability is CVE-2017-12458 since 08/04/2017. The attack may be initiated remotely. No form of authentication is needed for a successful exploitation. It demands that the victim is doing some kind of user interaction. Technical details of the vulnerability are known, but there is no available exploit.

The vulnerability was handled as a non-public zero-day exploit for at least 9 days. During that time the estimated underground price was around $0-$5k. The commercial vulnerability scanner Qualys is able to test this issue with plugin 277638 (Fedora Security Update for binutils (FEDORA-2019-ba3cbcfd20)).

There is no information about possible countermeasures known. It may be suggested to replace the affected object with an alternative product.

The vulnerability is also documented in the vulnerability database at SecurityFocus (BID 100499†). See VDB-104833, VDB-104834, VDB-104835 and VDB-104836 for similar entries. Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.

Productinfo

Type

• Programming Tool Software

Vendor

• GNU

Name

• binutils

Version

• 2.0
• 2.1
• 2.2
• 2.3
• 2.4
• 2.5
• 2.6
• 2.7
• 2.8
• 2.9
• 2.10
• 2.11
• 2.12
• 2.13
• 2.14
• 2.15
• 2.16
• 2.17
• 2.18
• 2.19
• 2.20
• 2.21
• 2.22
• 2.23
• 2.24
• 2.25
• 2.26
• 2.27
• 2.28
• 2.29

License

• open-source

Website

• Vendor: https://www.gnu.org/

CPE 2.3info

• 🔍
• 🔍
• 🔍

CPE 2.2info

• 🔍
• 🔍
• 🔍

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Exploitinginfo

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Entryinfo

Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.

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