Description
The Binary File Descriptor (BFD) library (aka libbfd), as distributed in GNU Binutils 2.30, allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (excessive memory allocation and application crash) via a crafted ELF file, as demonstrated by _bfd_elf_parse_attributes in elf-attrs.c and bfd_malloc in libbfd.c. This can occur during execution of nm.
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 |
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 6
- 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
- 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
- https://sourceware.org/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=23361
- RHSA-2018:3032 vendor-advisory
- 104584 vdb-entry
- RHBA-2019:0327 vendor-advisory
- GLSA-201908-01 vendor-advisory
- USN-4336-1 vendor-advisory