CVE-2017-15996 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

A vulnerability has been identified in the readelf program of GNU Binutils version 2.29, allowing remote attackers to cause a denial of service or potentially have other unknown impacts.

Understanding CVE-2017-15996

What is CVE-2017-15996?

CVE-2017-15996 is a vulnerability in the readelf program of GNU Binutils version 2.29 that can be exploited remotely by attackers to trigger a denial of service or other potential impacts.

The Impact of CVE-2017-15996

The vulnerability can lead to a denial of service condition or other unspecified impacts when a crafted ELF file triggers a buffer overflow on a fuzzed archive header.

Technical Details of CVE-2017-15996

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability exists in elfcomm.c in readelf in GNU Binutils 2.29.
Attackers can exploit this flaw by using a crafted ELF file to trigger a buffer overflow on a fuzzed archive header.
The issue is related to an uninitialized variable, an improper conditional jump, and specific functions within the program.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: GNU Binutils
Vendor: GNU
Version: 2.29

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit the vulnerability remotely by using a crafted ELF file to trigger a buffer overflow on a fuzzed archive header.

Mitigation and Prevention

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply security patches provided by the vendor.
Monitor vendor advisories for updates and apply them promptly.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update software and libraries to the latest versions.
Implement network security measures to prevent remote exploitation.

Patching and Updates

Check for patches and updates from the official GNU Binutils sources.