Description
Multiple integer overflows in the (1) _objalloc_alloc function in objalloc.c and (2) objalloc_alloc macro in include/objalloc.h in GNU libiberty, as used by binutils 2.22, allow remote attackers to cause a denial of service (crash) via vectors related to the "addition of CHUNK_HEADER_SIZE to the length," which triggers a heap-based buffer overflow.
Fixed in Linux distributions
Distributions backport fixes, so the version that fixes this vulnerability differs per release — upgrade to at least the version shown. From the distributions' security trackers and advisories.
Debian
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debian 14 | binutils | 2.22-8 | — |
| Debian 13 | binutils | 2.22-8 | — |
| Debian 12 | binutils | 2.22-8 | — |
| Debian 6.0 | binutils | 2.20.1-16+deb6u2 | DLA-324-1 |
Ubuntu
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu 14.04 LTS | binutils | 2.24-5ubuntu3.1 | USN-2496-1 |
SUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES 11 SP4 | binutils | 2.25.0-5.5 | SUSE-OU-2015:1803-1 |
| SLES 11 SP4 | cross-ppc-binutils +1 | 2.25.0-5.7 | SUSE-OU-2015:1803-1 |
| SLES 11 SP4 | gcc5 | 5.2.1+r226025-2.4 | SUSE-OU-2015:1803-1 |
| SLES 11 SP4 | gdb | 7.9.1-3.2 | SUSE-OU-2015:1803-1 |
| SLES 11 SP4 | libffi-gcc5 | 5.2.1+r226025-2.1 | SUSE-OU-2015:1803-1 |
Show 1 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES for SAP 11 SP4 | binutils | 2.25.0-5.5 | SUSE-OU-2015:1803-1 |
| SLES for SAP 11 SP4 | gcc5 | 5.2.1+r226025-2.4 | SUSE-OU-2015:1803-1 |
| SLES for SAP 11 SP4 | gdb | 7.9.1-3.2 | SUSE-OU-2015:1803-1 |
| SLES for SAP 11 SP4 | libffi-gcc5 | 5.2.1+r226025-2.1 | SUSE-OU-2015:1803-1 |
Advisories 3
- USN-2496-1 binutils vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Apr 22, 2026
- DLA-324-1 binutils - security update Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- SUSE-OU-2015:1803-1 Optional update for gcc5, binutils and gdb SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
References
- MDVSA-2015:029 vendor-advisory
- [gcc-patches] 20120829 [PATCH] PR other/54411: libiberty: objalloc_alloc integer overflows (CVE-2012-3509) mailing-list
- [oss-security] 20120829 CVE-2012-3509: objalloc_alloc integer overflows in libiberty mailing-list
- USN-2496-1 vendor-advisory
- gnu-libiberty-overflow(78135) vdb-entry
- http://gcc.gnu.org/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=54411
- 55281 vdb-entry
- http://security-tracker.debian.org/tracker/CVE-2012-3509