CVE-2019-17451 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

A problem was found in the libbfd library, also known as Binary File Descriptor, which is included in GNU Binutils version 2.32. This problem involves an integer overflow that results in a segmentation fault (SEGV) in the _bfd_dwarf2_find_nearest_line function residing in dwarf2.c. This issue has been demonstrated by the nm tool.

Understanding CVE-2019-17451

This CVE involves an integer overflow issue in the libbfd library of GNU Binutils version 2.32, leading to a segmentation fault in a specific function.

What is CVE-2019-17451?

An integer overflow in the libbfd library of GNU Binutils version 2.32 causes a segmentation fault in the _bfd_dwarf2_find_nearest_line function.

The Impact of CVE-2019-17451

The vulnerability can be exploited to trigger a segmentation fault, potentially leading to a denial of service or arbitrary code execution.

Technical Details of CVE-2019-17451

This section provides more technical insights into the CVE.

Vulnerability Description

The issue involves an integer overflow in the libbfd library, specifically in the _bfd_dwarf2_find_nearest_line function.

Affected Systems and Versions

Affected Version: GNU Binutils version 2.32

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability can be exploited by an attacker to cause a segmentation fault, potentially leading to a denial of service or arbitrary code execution.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2019-17451 is crucial to ensure security.

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 integer overflow vulnerabilities.

Patching and Updates

Install the latest updates and security patches from the software vendor to address the vulnerability.