GNU Binutils Invalid e_shoff Header Denial of Service Vulnerability [CVE-2019-1010204]

CVE number – CVE-2019-1010204

A vulnerability in GNU Binutils could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to cause a denial of service (DoS) condition on a targeted system.

The vulnerability exists in the gold/fileread.cc:497 and elfcpp/elfcpp_file.h:644 source code files of the affected software and is due to the improper processing of Executable Linkable Format (ELF) files with invalid e_shoff header fields. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by persuading a user to open an ELF file that submits malicious input to the targeted system. A successful exploit could cause an out-of-bounds read condition that the attacker could use to cause a DoS condition. 

Proof-of-concept (PoC) code that demonstrates an exploit of this vulnerability is publicly available. 

GNU has not confirmed the vulnerability and software updates are not available.

Analysis

• To exploit this vulnerability, an attacker may use misleading language or instructions to persuade a user to access an ELF file that submits malicious input to the targeted system.

Safeguards

• Administrators are advised to contact the vendor regarding future updates and releases.
  
  Administrators are advised to allow only trusted users to have network access.
  
  Administrators are advised to use an unprivileged account when browsing the Internet.
  
  Administrators are advised to monitor critical systems.
  
  Users are advised not to open email messages from suspicious or unrecognized sources. If users cannot verify that links or attachments included in email messages are safe, they are advised not to open them.
  
  Users are advised not to visit websites or follow links that have suspicious characteristics or cannot be verified as safe.

Vendor Announcements

• At the time this alert was first published, GNU had not released a security announcement.

Fixed Software

• At the time this alert was first published, GNU had not released software updates.