CVE-2017-15022 : Vulnerability Insights and Analysis

A vulnerability in the libbfd library of GNU Binutils 2.29 can lead to a denial of service attack due to a lack of validation of a specific data type.

Understanding CVE-2017-15022

This CVE involves a vulnerability in the dwarf2.c file within the Binary File Descriptor (BFD) library, impacting GNU Binutils 2.29.

What is CVE-2017-15022?

The vulnerability arises from the absence of validation for the DW_AT_name data type, enabling remote attackers to trigger a denial of service by exploiting a specially crafted ELF file. This can result in a NULL pointer dereference in bfd_hash_hash, leading to an out-of-bounds access and application crash.

The Impact of CVE-2017-15022

The vulnerability allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service by exploiting the lack of validation of the DW_AT_name data type in the libbfd library.

Technical Details of CVE-2017-15022

This section provides more technical insights into the CVE.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability in dwarf2.c within the BFD library of GNU Binutils 2.29 stems from the lack of validation of the DW_AT_name data type, enabling a denial of service attack.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: n/a
Vendor: n/a
Version: n/a

Exploitation Mechanism

By crafting a malicious ELF file, attackers can exploit the vulnerability to trigger a NULL pointer dereference in bfd_hash_hash, leading to an out-of-bounds access and application crash.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address CVE-2017-15022, follow these mitigation strategies:

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply vendor patches promptly
Monitor vendor communications for updates

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update software and libraries
Implement robust input validation mechanisms

Patching and Updates

Apply the latest patches from the vendor to mitigate the vulnerability