CVE-2018-20002 : Vulnerability Insights and Analysis
Learn about CVE-2018-20002, a memory leak vulnerability in the BFD library of GNU Binutils 2.31, allowing attackers to trigger denial of service through crafted ELF files. Find mitigation steps and patching details here.
A memory leak vulnerability exists in the _bfd_generic_read_minisymbols function within the syms.c file of the Binary File Descriptor (BFD) library (libbfd) present in GNU Binutils version 2.31. An attacker can exploit this flaw by providing a specially crafted ELF file, resulting in excessive memory consumption and causing a denial of service.
Understanding CVE-2018-20002
This CVE involves a memory leak vulnerability in the BFD library of GNU Binutils version 2.31.
What is CVE-2018-20002?
The vulnerability allows an attacker to trigger a denial of service by exploiting a memory leak in the _bfd_generic_read_minisymbols function.
The Impact of CVE-2018-20002
The exploitation of this vulnerability can lead to excessive memory consumption, potentially causing a denial of service.
Technical Details of CVE-2018-20002
This section provides more technical insights into the CVE.
Vulnerability Description
The _bfd_generic_read_minisymbols function in syms.c in the BFD library has a memory leak via a crafted ELF file, resulting in a denial of service.
Affected Systems and Versions
- Affected Version: GNU Binutils 2.31
- Systems using the affected version of the BFD library
Exploitation Mechanism
- Attacker provides a specially crafted ELF file
- Triggers memory leak in the _bfd_generic_read_minisymbols function
- Leads to excessive memory consumption and denial of service
Mitigation and Prevention
Protecting systems from CVE-2018-20002 requires immediate actions and long-term security practices.
Immediate Steps to Take
- Apply vendor patches or updates promptly
- Monitor system resources for unusual memory consumption
- Restrict access to vulnerable systems
Long-Term Security Practices
- Regularly update software and libraries
- Conduct security assessments and audits
- Educate users and administrators on secure practices
Patching and Updates
- Install the latest patches provided by GNU Binutils or the respective vendor
- Keep the BFD library and related software up to date to prevent exploitation