GNU Binutils 2.43 ld ld/ldelfgen.c link_order_scan memory leak

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability, which was classified as problematic, was found in GNU Binutils 2.43. Affected is the function link_order_scan of the file ld/ldelfgen.c of the component ld. Such manipulation leads to memory leak. This vulnerability is uniquely identified as CVE-2025-1148. The attack can be launched remotely. Moreover, an exploit is present. It is advisable to implement a patch to correct this issue. The code maintainer explains: "I'm not going to commit some of the leak fixes I've been working on to the 2.44 branch due to concern that would destabilise ld. All of the reported leaks in this bugzilla have been fixed on binutils master."

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in GNU Binutils 2.43 and classified as problematic. Affected by this issue is the function link_order_scan of the file ld/ldelfgen.c of the component ld. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a memory leak vulnerability. Using CWE to declare the problem leads to CWE-401. The product does not sufficiently track and release allocated memory after it has been used, which slowly consumes remaining memory. Impacted is availability.

The advisory is shared for download at sourceware.org. This vulnerability is handled as CVE-2025-1148. The exploitation is known to be difficult. The attack may be launched remotely. No form of authentication is required for exploitation. Successful exploitation requires user interaction by the victim. Technical details as well as a public exploit are known. The MITRE ATT&CK project declares the attack technique as T1499.

The exploit is available at sourceware.org. It is declared as proof-of-concept. The code maintainer explains: "I'm not going to commit some of the leak fixes I've been working on to the 2.44 branch due to concern that would destabilise ld. All of the reported leaks in this bugzilla have been fixed on binutils master." The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 232096 (Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2025-1148), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment.

Applying a patch is able to eliminate this problem.

The vulnerability is also documented in the databases at Tenable (232096) and CERT Bund (WID-SEC-2025-0304). Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.

Affected

• Ubuntu Linux
• NetApp ActiveIQ Unified Manager
• Open Source binutils

Productinfo

Type

• Programming Tool Software

Vendor

• GNU

Name

• Binutils

Version

• 2.43

License

• open-source

Website

• Vendor: https://www.gnu.org/

CPE 2.3info

• 🔍

CPE 2.2info

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Submitinfo

Accepted

• Submit #485747: GNU binutils/ld 2.43 Memory Leak (by wenjusun)

Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.

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