CVE-2017-15020 : What You Need to Know

A vulnerability in the libbfd library of GNU Binutils 2.29 could allow remote attackers to execute a denial of service attack or potentially cause other impacts by exploiting a crafted ELF file.

Understanding CVE-2017-15020

This CVE involves mishandling pointers in the dwarf1.c file of the libbfd library, leading to a heap-based buffer over-read.

What is CVE-2017-15020?

The vulnerability in the libbfd library of GNU Binutils 2.29 allows remote attackers to launch denial of service attacks or other unspecified impacts by using a maliciously crafted ELF file. The issue specifically affects the parse_die and parse_line_table functions.

The Impact of CVE-2017-15020

Remote attackers can exploit this vulnerability to crash applications or potentially cause other impacts by utilizing a maliciously crafted ELF file.

Technical Details of CVE-2017-15020

This section provides detailed technical information about the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The dwarf1.c file in the libbfd library of GNU Binutils 2.29 mishandles pointers, enabling remote attackers to trigger a denial of service or other impacts via a crafted ELF file, particularly related to parse_die and parse_line_table functions.

Affected Systems and Versions

Affected Product: Not applicable
Affected Vendor: Not applicable
Affected Version: Not applicable

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability can be exploited by remote attackers through a maliciously crafted ELF file, leveraging the mishandling of pointers in the parse_die and parse_line_table functions.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protective measures and actions to mitigate the impact of CVE-2017-15020.

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply security patches provided by the vendor promptly.
Implement network security measures to prevent unauthorized access.
Monitor system logs for any suspicious activities.

Long-Term Security Practices

Conduct regular security audits and vulnerability assessments.
Keep software and systems up to date with the latest security patches.

Patching and Updates

Ensure Binutils 2.29 is updated to the latest version to address the vulnerability.