CVE-2017-8394 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies
Learn about CVE-2017-8394, a vulnerability in the BFD library of GNU Binutils 2.28, leading to crashes in programs like objcopy. Find mitigation steps and prevention measures here.
A vulnerability has been identified in the Binary File Descriptor (BFD) library (libbfd) in GNU Binutils version 2.28, leading to crashes in programs utilizing this library for binary program analysis.
Understanding CVE-2017-8394
What is CVE-2017-8394?
The vulnerability in the BFD library involves an invalid reading operation of size 4 due to the dereferencing of a NULL pointer in _bfd_elf_large_com_section.
The Impact of CVE-2017-8394
This vulnerability can cause programs like objcopy that rely on the libbfd library for binary program analysis to crash.
Technical Details of CVE-2017-8394
Vulnerability Description
The vulnerability in the BFD library results from an invalid read of size 4 due to NULL pointer dereferencing in _bfd_elf_large_com_section.
Affected Systems and Versions
- Product: Not applicable
- Vendor: Not applicable
- Versions affected: Not applicable
Exploitation Mechanism
The vulnerability is exploited through the dereferencing of a NULL pointer in _bfd_elf_large_com_section.
Mitigation and Prevention
Immediate Steps to Take
- Update to a patched version of GNU Binutils that addresses the vulnerability.
- Avoid running untrusted binary programs that may trigger the vulnerability.
Long-Term Security Practices
- Regularly update software and libraries to the latest secure versions.
- Implement code reviews and testing to catch potential vulnerabilities early.
Patching and Updates
Apply patches provided by the software vendor to fix the vulnerability.