Description
elflint.c in elfutils 0.168 does not validate the number of sections and the number of segments, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (memory consumption) via a crafted ELF file.
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 | elfutils | 0.168-1 | — |
| Debian 13 | elfutils | 0.168-1 | — |
| Debian 12 | elfutils | 0.168-1 | — |
| Debian 8 | elfutils | 0.159-4.2+deb8u1 | DLA-1689-1 |
Ubuntu
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu 18.04 LTS | elfutils | 0.170-0.4 | — |
| Ubuntu 16.04 LTS | elfutils | 0.165-3ubuntu1.1 | USN-3670-1 |
| Ubuntu 14.04 LTS | elfutils | 0.158-0ubuntu5.3 | USN-3670-1 |
SUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES 15 SP3 | dwarves | 1.22-150300.7.3.1 | SUSE-SU-2022:2614-1 |
| SLES 15 SP3 | elfutils | 0.177-150300.11.3.1 | SUSE-SU-2022:2614-1 |
| SLES 15 SP1 | elfutils | 0.168-4.5.3 | SUSE-SU-2019:1486-1 |
| SLES 15 | elfutils | 0.168-4.5.3 | SUSE-SU-2019:1486-1 |
| SLES 12 SP4 | elfutils | 0.158-7.7.2 | SUSE-SU-2019:1733-1 |
| SLES 12 SP3 | elfutils | 0.158-7.7.2 | SUSE-SU-2019:1733-1 |
Show 4 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES for SAP 12 SP4 | elfutils | 0.158-7.7.2 | SUSE-SU-2019:1733-1 |
| SLES for SAP 12 SP3 | elfutils | 0.158-7.7.2 | SUSE-SU-2019:1733-1 |
| SLE Micro 5.2 | dwarves | 1.22-150300.7.3.1 | SUSE-SU-2022:2614-1 |
| SLE Micro 5.2 | elfutils | 0.177-150300.11.3.1 | SUSE-SU-2022:2614-1 |
| SLE Micro 5.1 | dwarves | 1.22-150300.7.3.1 | SUSE-SU-2022:2614-1 |
| SLE Micro 5.1 | elfutils | 0.177-150300.11.3.1 | SUSE-SU-2022:2614-1 |
openSUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| openSUSE Leap 15.3 | dwarves | 1.22-150300.7.3.1 | SUSE-SU-2022:2614-1 |
| openSUSE Leap 15.3 | elfutils | 0.177-150300.11.3.1 | SUSE-SU-2022:2614-1 |
| openSUSE Leap 15.1 | elfutils | 0.168-lp151.4.3.1 | openSUSE-SU-2019:1590-1 |
| openSUSE Leap 15.0 | elfutils | 0.168-lp151.4.3.1 | openSUSE-SU-2019:1590-1 |
Show 1 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| openSUSE Leap Micro 5.2 | dwarves | 1.22-150300.7.3.1 | SUSE-SU-2022:2614-2 |
| openSUSE Leap Micro 5.2 | elfutils | 0.177-150300.11.3.1 | SUSE-SU-2022:2614-2 |
Advisories 7
- USN-3670-1 elfutils vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Apr 22, 2026
- DLA-1689-1 elfutils - security update Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2022:2614-1 Security update for dwarves and elfutils SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- openSUSE-SU-2019:1590-1 Security update for elfutils SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2019:1733-1 Security update for elfutils SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2022:2614-2 Security update for dwarves and elfutils SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2019:1486-1 Security update for elfutils SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
References
- USN-3670-1 vendor-advisory
- https://blogs.gentoo.org/ago/2017/04/03/elfutils-memory-allocation-failure-in-xcalloc-xmalloc-c
- [debian-lts-announce] 20190225 [SECURITY] [DLA 1689-1] elfutils security update mailing-list
- GLSA-201710-10 vendor-advisory
- openSUSE-SU-2019:1590 vendor-advisory