Description
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.
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 | 2.30.90.20180627-1 | — |
| Debian 13 | binutils | 2.30.90.20180627-1 | — |
| Debian 12 | binutils | 2.30.90.20180627-1 | — |
Ubuntu
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu 18.04 LTS | binutils | 2.30-21ubuntu1~18.04.3 | USN-4336-1 |
Show 2 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| 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 | — |
Red Hat
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHEL 7 | binutils +1 | 2.27-34.base.el7 | RHSA-2018:3032 |
SUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES 15 | binutils | 2.31-6.3.1 | SUSE-SU-2018:3170-1 |
| SLES 12 SP3 | binutils +2 | 2.31-9.26.1 | SUSE-SU-2018:3207-1 |
| SLES 12 SP2 | binutils | 2.31-9.26.1 | SUSE-SU-2018:3207-2, SUSE-SU-2018:3207-1 |
| SLES 12 SP1 | binutils | 2.31-9.26.1 | SUSE-SU-2018:3207-1 |
| SLES 12 | binutils | 2.31-9.26.1 | SUSE-SU-2018:3207-1 |
Show 5 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES for SAP 12 SP3 | binutils | 2.31-9.26.1 | SUSE-SU-2018:3207-1 |
| SLES for SAP 12 SP2 | binutils | 2.31-9.26.1 | SUSE-SU-2018:3207-1 |
| SLES for SAP 12 SP1 | binutils | 2.31-9.26.1 | SUSE-SU-2018:3207-1 |
| SUSE OpenStack Cloud 7 | binutils | 2.31-9.26.1 | SUSE-SU-2018:3207-1 |
| SUSE Enterprise Storage 4 | binutils | 2.31-9.26.1 | SUSE-SU-2018:3207-1 |
openSUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| openSUSE Tumbleweed | binutils | 2.37-1.3 | openSUSE-SU-2024:10651-1 |
Amazon Linux
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon Linux 2 | binutils +1 | 2.29.1-27.amzn2.0.1 | ALAS2-2019-1185, ALAS2-2019-1138 |
Oracle Linux
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oracle Linux 7 | binutils +1 | 2.27-34.base.0.1.el7 | ELSA-2018-3032 |
Advisories 10
- RHSA-2018:3032 Red Hat Security Advisory: binutils security, bug fix, and enhancement update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 26, 2026
- USN-4336-2 binutils vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Jun 25, 2026
- USN-4336-1 binutils vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Apr 27, 2026
- openSUSE-SU-2024:10651-1 binutils-2.37-1.3 on GA media SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2018:3170-1 Security update for binutils SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2018:3207-2 Security update for binutils SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2018:3207-1 Security update for binutils SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- ALAS2-2019-1185 Moderate: binutils security update (Amazon Linux 2) Amazon Linux Security Center (ALAS) · Apr 8, 2025
- ALAS2-2019-1138 Low: binutils security update (Amazon Linux 2) Amazon Linux Security Center (ALAS) · Jan 9, 2019
- ELSA-2018-3032 Low: binutils security, bug fix, and enhancement update (Oracle Linux 7) Oracle Linux Security Advisories (ELSA) · Nov 5, 2018
References
- RHSA-2018:3032 vendor-advisory
- https://sourceware.org/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=23113
- 104021 vdb-entry
- RHBA-2019:0327 vendor-advisory
- GLSA-201908-01 vendor-advisory
- USN-4336-1 vendor-advisory