Out-of-Bounds Read in Gnu Binutils (CVE-2017-16829)
Summary
Vulnerability in Gnu Binutils (CVE-2017-16829). Successful exploitation can lead to full system takeover.
Original description
The description as published by the source.
The _bfd_elf_parse_gnu_properties function in elf-properties.c in the Binary File Descriptor (BFD) library (aka libbfd), as distributed in GNU Binutils 2.29.1, does not prevent negative pointers, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (out-of-bounds read and application crash) or possibly have unspecified other impact via a crafted ELF file.
Source: NIST National Vulnerability Database NVD
Auto-generated summary
Assembled by SecPulse from the source data (CVSS, CWE, affected versions) using templates — no AI involved. Check the original description and references below for exact details.
A vulnerability tracked as CVE-2017-16829 has been found in Gnu Binutils.
Successful exploitation can lead to full system takeover. CVSS score: 7.8/10.
What to do: apply the vendor's official patched release.
If unsure, ask your IT team or search "Gnu Binutils CVE-2017-16829" on the vendor's site.
CVE-2017-16829 (Gnu Binutils) — CWE-125 / CVSS v3 7.8
Attack vector: local / unauthenticated
Plan: 1) Audit SBOM/dependencies, 2) Stage→prod upgrade, 3) Add WAF/proxy monitoring on affected endpoints, 4) Hunt IOCs in logs.
Refs: see the GHSA / vendor advisory / patched release linked on this page.
Out-of-bounds read (CWE-125) exists in Gnu Binutils.
Check the vendor advisory for the affected versions of Gnu Binutils.
Severity: High (CVSS 7.8/10). Successful exploitation can lead to full system takeover.
Update to the patched release per vendor advisory.
Until the patch is applied: disable the affected feature, apply WAF rules, or restrict access via network ACLs.
Search webserver/proxy logs for unusual request patterns matching this CVE's known IOCs. Run grep -r 'Binutils' . against your dependency files (package-lock.json, requirements.txt, go.sum) to find affected services.
Response actions
Concrete steps and command examples for SOC/SRE teams to execute in order
-
1Identify exposure identify
grep -r 'Binutils' . | grep -v node_modulesリポジトリと本番環境の依存ファイル (package-lock.json / requirements.txt / go.sum / Gemfile.lock 等) で
Binutilsを grep し、稼働しているサービス・バージョンを把握する。 -
2Post-deployment verification verify
Confirm patched version is live in productionパッチ適用後、ステージングで PoC または同等の悪用パターンを再現して脆弱性が閉じたことを確認。本番ではアクセスログ・WAF でアラート再発が無いか継続監視。
Fix status by distribution
Fixed packages published by each distribution for this CVE
- Debian DEBIAN-CVE-2017-16829 binutils Fixed in: 2.29.90.20180122-1
References
- exploit sourceware.org
- web security.gentoo.org
- web sourceware.org