CVE-2020-35496 Explained : Impact and Mitigation
Learn about CVE-2020-35496, a vulnerability in binutils before version 2.34 that could lead to a NULL pointer dereference, impacting application availability. Find out how to mitigate and prevent this security issue.
A vulnerability in binutils prior to version 2.34 could allow an attacker to trigger a NULL pointer dereference, impacting application availability.
Understanding CVE-2020-35496
This CVE involves a flaw in bfd_pef_scan_start_address() in binutils, potentially leading to a NULL pointer dereference when processing crafted files.
What is CVE-2020-35496?
The vulnerability in binutils before version 2.34 allows an attacker to exploit a flaw in bfd_pef_scan_start_address(), potentially causing a NULL pointer dereference when processing malicious files.
The Impact of CVE-2020-35496
The primary risk associated with this vulnerability is the potential compromise of application availability due to a NULL pointer dereference triggered by processing specially crafted files.
Technical Details of CVE-2020-35496
This section provides more in-depth technical insights into the vulnerability.
Vulnerability Description
The flaw in bfd_pef_scan_start_address() in binutils could be exploited by an attacker to cause a NULL pointer dereference, impacting application availability.
Affected Systems and Versions
- Product: binutils
- Versions affected: binutils 2.34 and earlier
Exploitation Mechanism
The vulnerability can be exploited by submitting a specially crafted file to be processed by objdump, triggering the NULL pointer dereference.
Mitigation and Prevention
Protecting systems from CVE-2020-35496 requires immediate actions and long-term security practices.
Immediate Steps to Take
- Update binutils to version 2.34 or newer to mitigate the vulnerability.
- Monitor for any suspicious activities related to file processing.
Long-Term Security Practices
- Implement file input validation mechanisms to prevent the processing of malicious files.
- Conduct regular security assessments and audits to identify and address vulnerabilities proactively.
Patching and Updates
- Regularly check for security updates and patches for binutils to address known vulnerabilities and enhance system security.