CVE-2017-8421 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

A memory leak vulnerability in the Binary File Descriptor (BFD) library of GNU Binutils 2.28 can lead to memory exhaustion in objdump when processing a specially crafted PE file.

Understanding CVE-2017-8421

This CVE involves a specific vulnerability in the BFD library that affects the objdump utility.

What is CVE-2017-8421?

The vulnerability is located in the function coff_set_alignment_hook in coffcode.h from the BFD library, impacting GNU Binutils 2.28. It can result in memory exhaustion in objdump if a malicious PE file is processed.

The Impact of CVE-2017-8421

The vulnerability can be exploited to cause memory exhaustion, potentially leading to denial of service or other security issues.

Technical Details of CVE-2017-8421

This section provides more in-depth technical insights into the CVE.

Vulnerability Description

The flaw in the coff_set_alignment_hook function of the BFD library can trigger a memory leak, affecting objdump's ability to handle PE files.

Affected Systems and Versions

Affected Software: GNU Binutils 2.28
Affected Component: Binary File Descriptor (BFD) library
Affected Utility: objdump

Exploitation Mechanism

By processing a specially crafted PE file, an attacker can trigger the memory leak vulnerability, leading to memory exhaustion in objdump.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address CVE-2017-8421 and enhance system security, follow these mitigation strategies:

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply patches or updates provided by the software vendor.
Implement additional validation in the dump_relocs_in_section function in objdump.c.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update software and libraries to the latest versions.
Conduct security assessments and code reviews to identify and address vulnerabilities.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security advisories from software vendors.
Monitor for patches related to the BFD library and objdump utility.