Description
The _bfd_generic_read_minisymbols function in syms.c in the Binary File Descriptor (BFD) library (aka libbfd), as distributed in GNU Binutils 2.31, has a memory leak via a crafted ELF file, leading to a denial of service (memory consumption), as demonstrated by 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 | 2.32.51.20190707-1 | — |
| Debian 13 | binutils | 2.32.51.20190707-1 | — |
| Debian 12 | binutils | 2.32.51.20190707-1 | — |
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 | — |
Alpine
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alpine v3.24 | binutils | 2.32-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.23 | binutils | 2.32-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.22 | binutils | 2.32-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.21 | binutils | 2.32-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.20 | binutils | 2.32-r0 | — |
Show 10 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alpine v3.19 | binutils | 2.32-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.18 | binutils | 2.32-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.17 | binutils | 2.32-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.16 | binutils | 2.32-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.15 | binutils | 2.32-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.14 | binutils | 2.32-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.13 | binutils | 2.32-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.12 | binutils +1 | 2.32-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.11 | binutils +1 | 2.32-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.10 | binutils | 2.32-r0 | — |
Advisories 2
- USN-4336-2 binutils vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Jun 25, 2026
- USN-4336-1 binutils vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Apr 27, 2026
References
- 106142 vdb-entry
- https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20190221-0004/
- https://sourceware.org/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=23952
- https://sourceware.org/git/gitweb.cgi?p=binutils-gdb.git%3Bh=c2f5dc30afa34696f2da0081c4ac50b958ecb0e9
- https://support.f5.com/csp/article/K62602089
- GLSA-201908-01 vendor-advisory
- USN-4336-1 vendor-advisory