CVE-2018-10373 : Security Advisory and Response
Learn about CVE-2018-10373, a vulnerability in GNU Binutils version 2.30 that allows remote attackers to induce a denial of service condition. Find mitigation steps and long-term security practices here.
A vulnerability in the Binary File Descriptor (BFD) library in GNU Binutils version 2.30 can lead to a denial of service attack. Remote attackers can exploit this issue through a specially crafted binary file.
Understanding CVE-2018-10373
What is CVE-2018-10373?
The function concat_filename in the dwarf2.c file of the BFD library allows remote attackers to induce a denial of service condition by exploiting a vulnerability in GNU Binutils version 2.30.
The Impact of CVE-2018-10373
This vulnerability can be exploited by remote attackers to cause a denial of service condition, leading to a NULL pointer dereference and application crash.
Technical Details of CVE-2018-10373
Vulnerability Description
The concat_filename function in dwarf2.c in the BFD library allows remote attackers to trigger a denial of service via a crafted binary file.
Affected Systems and Versions
- Product: Not applicable
- Vendor: Not applicable
- Version: Not applicable
Exploitation Mechanism
The exploit is achieved through a carefully crafted binary file, as demonstrated by the nm-new example.
Mitigation and Prevention
Immediate Steps to Take
- Apply the necessary patches provided by the vendor
- Avoid opening untrusted binary files
- Monitor security advisories for updates
Long-Term Security Practices
- Regularly update software and libraries
- Implement network security measures
- Conduct security audits and code reviews
Patching and Updates
- Update to a patched version of GNU Binutils
- Follow vendor recommendations for securing the BFD library