Description
elflink.c in the Binary File Descriptor (BFD) library (aka libbfd), as distributed in GNU Binutils 2.28, has a "member access within null pointer" undefined behavior issue, which might allow remote attackers to cause a denial of service (application crash) or possibly have unspecified other impact via an "int main() {return 0;}" program.
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 | 2.28-4 | — |
| Debian 13 | binutils | 2.28-4 | — |
| Debian 12 | binutils | 2.28-4 | — |
Ubuntu
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu Pro 16.04 LTS | binutils | 2.26.1-1ubuntu1~16.04.8+esm1 | USN-4336-2 |
| Ubuntu Pro 14.04 LTS | binutils | No fix yet | — |
SUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES 12 SP3 | binutils +2 | 2.29.1-9.20.2 | SUSE-SU-2017:3170-1 |
| SLES 12 SP2 | binutils +2 | 2.29.1-9.20.2 | SUSE-SU-2017:3170-1 |
Show 3 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES for SAP 12 SP3 | binutils | 2.29.1-9.20.2 | SUSE-SU-2017:3170-1 |
| SLES for SAP 12 SP2 | binutils | 2.29.1-9.20.2 | SUSE-SU-2017:3170-1 |
| SLES for SAP 12 SP1 | binutils | 2.29.1-9.20.2 | SUSE-SU-2017:3170-1 |
Alpine
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alpine v3.24 | binutils | 2.28-r1 | — |
| Alpine v3.23 | binutils | 2.28-r1 | — |
| Alpine v3.22 | binutils | 2.28-r1 | — |
| Alpine v3.21 | binutils | 2.28-r1 | — |
| Alpine v3.20 | binutils | 2.28-r1 | — |
Show 16 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alpine v3.19 | binutils | 2.28-r1 | — |
| Alpine v3.18 | binutils | 2.28-r1 | — |
| Alpine v3.17 | binutils | 2.28-r1 | — |
| Alpine v3.16 | binutils | 2.28-r1 | — |
| Alpine v3.15 | binutils | 2.28-r1 | — |
| Alpine v3.14 | binutils | 2.28-r1 | — |
| Alpine v3.13 | binutils | 2.28-r1 | — |
| Alpine v3.12 | binutils | 2.28-r1 | — |
| Alpine v3.11 | binutils | 2.28-r1 | — |
| Alpine v3.10 | binutils | 2.28-r1 | — |
| Alpine v3.9 | binutils | 2.28-r1 | — |
| Alpine v3.8 | binutils | 2.28-r1 | — |
| Alpine v3.7 | binutils | 2.28-r1 | — |
| Alpine v3.6 | binutils | 2.28-r1 | — |
| Alpine v3.5 | binutils | 2.27-r1 | — |
| Alpine v3.4 | binutils | 2.26-r1 | — |
Advisories 2
- USN-4336-2 binutils vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Jun 25, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2017:3170-1 Security update for binutils SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026