GNU binutils 2.30 libbfd elf.c ignore_section_sym null pointer dereference

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability has been found in GNU binutils 2.30 and classified as problematic. This vulnerability affects the function ignore_section_sym of the file elf.c of the component libbfd. The manipulation leads to null pointer dereference. This vulnerability is uniquely identified as CVE-2018-10535. The attack is possible to be carried out remotely. No exploit exists.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in GNU binutils 2.30 (Programming Tool Software). It has been rated as problematic. This issue affects the function ignore_section_sym of the file elf.c of the component libbfd. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a null pointer dereference vulnerability. Using CWE to declare the problem leads to 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. Impacted is availability. The summary by CVE is:

The ignore_section_sym function in elf.c in the Binary File Descriptor (BFD) library (aka libbfd), as distributed in GNU Binutils 2.30, does not validate the output_section pointer in the case of a symtab entry with a "SECTION" type that has a "0" value, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (NULL pointer dereference and application crash) via a crafted file, as demonstrated by objcopy.

The bug was discovered 04/24/2018. The weakness was disclosed 04/29/2018 (Website). The advisory is shared at securityfocus.com. The identification of this vulnerability is CVE-2018-10535 since 04/29/2018. The attack may be initiated remotely. No form of authentication is needed for a successful exploitation. Technical details are known, 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 111951 (Photon OS 2.0: Binutils / Glibc PHSA-2018-2.0-0064 (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. The commercial vulnerability scanner Qualys is able to test this issue with plugin 237010 (Red Hat Update for binutils (RHSA-2018:3032)).

A possible mitigation has been published 3 months after the disclosure of the vulnerability.

The vulnerability is also documented in the databases at Tenable (111951) and SecurityFocus (BID 104021†). The entries VDB-98228, VDB-98229, VDB-98335 and VDB-98370 are pretty similar. If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.

Productinfo

Type

• Programming Tool Software

Vendor

• GNU

Name

• binutils

Version

• 2.30

License

• open-source

Website

• Vendor: https://www.gnu.org/

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If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.

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