CVE-2017-15021 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

In GNU Binutils 2.29, a vulnerability in the Binary File Descriptor (BFD) library can lead to a denial of service attack. Attackers can exploit this issue by using a crafted ELF file to trigger a heap-based buffer over-read, causing an application crash.

Understanding CVE-2017-15021

This CVE involves a specific vulnerability in the bfd_get_debug_link_info_1 function within the opncls.c file of the libbfd library.

What is CVE-2017-15021?

The vulnerability in the BFD library of GNU Binutils 2.29 allows remote attackers to perform a denial of service attack through a crafted ELF file, resulting in a heap-based buffer over-read and application crash.

The Impact of CVE-2017-15021

Remote attackers can exploit this vulnerability to crash applications by triggering a heap-based buffer over-read.

Technical Details of CVE-2017-15021

This section provides more technical insights into the CVE.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability occurs in the bfd_get_debug_link_info_1 function within the opncls.c file of the libbfd library.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Not applicable
Vendor: Not applicable
Versions: All versions are affected

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers exploit a crafted ELF file to trigger a heap-based buffer over-read, leading to an application crash.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2017-15021 requires immediate actions and long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply vendor patches or updates to mitigate the vulnerability.
Monitor security advisories for any new information or patches related to this CVE.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update software and libraries to prevent known vulnerabilities.
Implement network security measures to detect and block malicious activities.

Patching and Updates

Install the latest patches provided by the vendor to address the vulnerability.