GNU binutils up to 2.29 libbfd bfd/mach-o.c bfd_mach_o_read_symtab_strtab out-of-bounds write

CVSS Meta Temp Score CVSS is a standardized scoring system to determine possibilities of attacks. The Temp Score considers temporal factors like disclosure, exploit and countermeasures. The unique Meta Score calculates the average score of different sources to provide a normalized scoring system.	Current Exploit Price (≈) Our analysts are monitoring exploit markets and are in contact with vulnerability brokers. The range indicates the observed or calculated exploit price to be seen on exploit markets. A good indicator to understand the monetary effort required for and the popularity of an attack.	CTI Interest Score Our Cyber Threat Intelligence team is monitoring different web sites, mailing lists, exploit markets and social media networks. The CTI Interest Score identifies the interest of attackers and the security community for this specific vulnerability in real-time. A high score indicates an elevated risk to be targeted for this vulnerability.
6.5	$0-$5k	0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability described as critical has been identified in GNU binutils up to 2.29. This vulnerability affects the function bfd_mach_o_read_symtab_strtab of the file bfd/mach-o.c of the component libbfd. The manipulation results in out-of-bounds write. This vulnerability is cataloged as CVE-2017-12459. The attack must be initiated from a local position. There is no exploit available.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability, which was classified as critical, was found in GNU binutils up to 2.29 (Programming Tool Software). Affected is the function bfd_mach_o_read_symtab_strtab of the file bfd/mach-o.c of the component libbfd. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a out-of-bounds write vulnerability. CWE is classifying the issue as CWE-787. The product writes data past the end, or before the beginning, of the intended buffer. This is going to have an impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. CVE summarizes:

The bfd_mach_o_read_symtab_strtab function in bfd/mach-o.c 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 write and possibly achieve code execution via a crafted mach-o file.

The bug was discovered 07/26/2017. The weakness was shared 08/04/2017 (Website). The advisory is shared for download at sourceware.org. This vulnerability is traded as CVE-2017-12459 since 08/04/2017. It is possible to launch the attack remotely. The exploitation doesn't require any form of authentication. Successful exploitation requires user interaction by the victim. There are known technical details, but no exploit is available.

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 vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 259885 (Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2017-12459), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment. 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 databases at Tenable (259885) and SecurityFocus (BID 100499†). The entries VDB-104833, VDB-104834, VDB-104835 and VDB-104836 are related to this item. Once again VulDB remains the best source 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

• 🔍
• 🔍
• 🔍

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 6.5
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 6.5

VulDB Base Score: 5.3
VulDB Temp Score: 5.3
VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

NVD Base Score: 7.8
NVD Vector: 🔍

CVSSv2info

AV	AC	Au	C	I	A
💳	💳	💳	💳	💳	💳
💳	💳	💳	💳	💳	💳
💳	💳	💳	💳	💳	💳

Vector	Complexity	Authentication	Confidentiality	Integrity	Availability
Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock
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Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock

VulDB Base Score: 🔍
VulDB Temp Score: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

NVD Base Score: 🔍

Exploitinginfo

Class: Out-of-bounds write
CWE: CWE-787 / CWE-119
CAPEC: 🔍
ATT&CK: 🔍

Physical: Partially
Local: Yes
Remote: Yes

Availability: 🔍
Status: Not defined

EPSS Score: 🔍
EPSS Percentile: 🔍

Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔍

0-Day	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock
Today	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock

Nessus ID: 259885
Nessus Name: Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2017-12459

Qualys ID: 🔍
Qualys Name: 🔍

Threat Intelligenceinfo

Interest: 🔍
Active Actors: 🔍
Active APT Groups: 🔍

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: no mitigation known
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔍

Timelineinfo

07/26/2017 🔍
08/04/2017 +9 days 🔍
08/04/2017 +0 days 🔍
08/04/2017 +0 days 🔍
08/05/2017 +1 days 🔍
08/27/2017 +22 days 🔍
08/31/2025 +2926 days 🔍

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: gnu.org

Advisory: sourceware.org
Researcher: Nick Clifton
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2017-12459 (🔍)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2017-12459
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-104844
SecurityFocus: 100499 - GNU Binutils CVE-2017-13710 Remote Denial of Service Vulnerability

See also: 🔍

Entryinfo

Created: 08/05/2017 20:14
Updated: 08/31/2025 21:13
Changes: 08/05/2017 20:14 (64), 11/03/2019 17:42 (3), 01/07/2021 11:44 (2), 08/31/2025 21:13 (16)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

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