CVE-2017-15023 : Security Advisory and Response

CVE-2017-15023 was published on October 4, 2017, and affects the Binary File Descriptor (BFD) library in GNU Binutils 2.29. The vulnerability allows remote attackers to trigger a denial of service by exploiting a NULL pointer dereference in the concat_filename function when processing a specially crafted ELF file.

Understanding CVE-2017-15023

This CVE entry describes a vulnerability in the BFD library that can lead to a denial of service attack.

What is CVE-2017-15023?

The vulnerability in the read_formatted_entries function in the dwarf2.c file of the BFD library allows remote attackers to crash an application by exploiting a NULL pointer dereference. The issue arises due to inadequate validation of the format count.

The Impact of CVE-2017-15023

The vulnerability enables remote attackers to cause a denial of service by exploiting a NULL pointer dereference, leading to an application crash. It is specifically related to the concat_filename function when processing a specially crafted ELF file.

Technical Details of CVE-2017-15023

This section provides technical details about the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The read_formatted_entries function in dwarf2.c in the BFD library does not properly validate the format count, allowing remote attackers to trigger a denial of service via a crafted ELF file.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Not applicable
Vendor: Not applicable
Version: Not applicable

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability can be exploited by remote attackers to cause a denial of service through a NULL pointer dereference when processing a specially crafted ELF file.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2017-15023 requires immediate actions and long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply security patches provided by the vendor promptly.
Implement network security measures to prevent remote exploitation.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update software and libraries to patch known vulnerabilities.
Conduct security assessments and audits to identify and mitigate potential risks.

Patching and Updates

Ensure that Binutils and related libraries are updated to versions that address the vulnerability.