CVE-2018-19931 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

A flaw was detected in the Binary File Descriptor (BFD) library (libbfd) in GNU Binutils up to version 2.31, leading to a heap-based buffer overflow in the bfd_elf32_swap_phdr_in function.

Understanding CVE-2018-19931

What is CVE-2018-19931?

An issue in the BFD library in GNU Binutils through version 2.31 resulted in a heap-based buffer overflow due to a lack of constraints on the number of program headers.

The Impact of CVE-2018-19931

The vulnerability could allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service by exploiting the buffer overflow.

Technical Details of CVE-2018-19931

Vulnerability Description

The flaw exists in the bfd_elf32_swap_phdr_in function in elfcode.h, allowing a heap-based buffer overflow.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: n/a
Vendor: n/a
Versions affected: Up to GNU Binutils version 2.31

Exploitation Mechanism

The absence of constraints on the number of program headers in the BFD library allows attackers to trigger the heap-based buffer overflow.

Mitigation and Prevention

Immediate Steps to Take

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

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update software and libraries to the latest versions.
Implement secure coding practices to prevent buffer overflows.

Patching and Updates

Update Binutils to version 2.32 or later to mitigate the vulnerability.