GNU binutils up to 2.29 dwarf2.c scan_unit_for_symbols null pointer dereference

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.
4.4	$0-$5k	0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability categorized as problematic has been discovered in GNU binutils up to 2.29. Affected is the function scan_unit_for_symbols of the file dwarf2.c. The manipulation results in null pointer dereference. This vulnerability is cataloged as CVE-2017-14940. The attack must be initiated from a local position. There is no exploit available.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in GNU binutils up to 2.29 (Programming Tool Software). It has been classified as problematic. Affected is the function scan_unit_for_symbols of the file dwarf2.c. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a null pointer dereference vulnerability. CWE is classifying the issue as CWE-476. A NULL pointer dereference occurs when the application dereferences a pointer that it expects to be valid, but is NULL, typically causing a crash or exit. This is going to have an impact on availability. CVE summarizes:

scan_unit_for_symbols in dwarf2.c in the Binary File Descriptor (BFD) library (aka libbfd), as distributed in GNU Binutils 2.29, allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (NULL pointer dereference and application crash) via a crafted ELF file.

The bug was discovered 09/24/2017. The weakness was shared 09/30/2017 (Website). The advisory is shared for download at blogs.gentoo.org. This vulnerability is traded as CVE-2017-14940 since 09/29/2017. 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 5 days. During that time the estimated underground price was around $0-$5k. The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 111916 (Photon OS 1.0: Binutils PHSA-2018-1.0-0104 (deprecated)), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment. It is assigned to the family PhotonOS Local Security Checks and running in the context l.

A possible mitigation has been published 5 months after the disclosure of the vulnerability.

The vulnerability is also documented in the vulnerability database at Tenable (111916). The entries VDB-105827, VDB-107296, VDB-107298 and VDB-107300 are related to this item. VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.

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: 4.4
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 4.4

VulDB Base Score: 3.3
VulDB Temp Score: 3.3
VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

NVD Base Score: 5.5
NVD Vector: 🔍

CVSSv2info

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

NVD Base Score: 🔍

Exploitinginfo

Class: Null pointer dereference
CWE: CWE-476 / CWE-404
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: 111916
Nessus Name: Photon OS 1.0: Binutils PHSA-2018-1.0-0104 (deprecated)
Nessus File: 🔍
Nessus Risk: 🔍
Nessus Family: 🔍
Nessus Context: 🔍

Threat Intelligenceinfo

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

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: no mitigation known
Status: 🔍

Reaction Time: 🔍
0-Day Time: 🔍
Exposure Time: 🔍

Patch: 0d76029f92182c3682d8be2c833d45bc9a2068fe

Timelineinfo

09/24/2017 🔍
09/29/2017 +5 days 🔍
09/29/2017 +0 days 🔍
09/30/2017 +1 days 🔍
09/30/2017 +0 days 🔍
02/01/2018 +124 days 🔍
08/17/2018 +197 days 🔍
12/30/2022 +1596 days 🔍

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: gnu.org

Advisory: blogs.gentoo.org
Status: Not defined

CVE: CVE-2017-14940 (🔍)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2017-14940
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-107304
See also: 🔍

Entryinfo

Created: 09/30/2017 11:35
Updated: 12/30/2022 13:25
Changes: 09/30/2017 11:35 (64), 11/20/2019 17:55 (6), 12/30/2022 13:25 (3)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.

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