binutils: out of bounds read in elf_parse_notes function in elf.c file in libbfd library
Published Feb 9, 2018
5.5
MEDIUMCVSS 3.0
EPSS 2.17%
Description
The elf_parse_notes function in elf.c in the Binary File Descriptor (BFD) library (aka libbfd), as distributed in GNU Binutils 2.30, allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (out-of-bounds read and segmentation violation) via a note with a large alignment.
Affected products
No data.
No data.
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5
binutils
Will not fix
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5
binutils220
Will not fix
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6
binutils
Will not fix
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7
binutils
Will not fix
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8
binutils
Will not fix
| Product | Package | State | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 | binutils | Will not fix | n/a |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 | binutils220 | Will not fix | n/a |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 | binutils | Will not fix | n/a |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 | binutils | Will not fix | n/a |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 | binutils | Will not fix | n/a |
No package ranges for this CVE.
Remediation
Red Hat statement
The prerequisites for successful exploitation of this bug involves both independent filesystem access as well as the victim to interact with the file created. * An attacker needs to create a file (such as an ELF file) containing a note section with a large alignment value designed to trigger the out-of-bounds read in the elf_parse_notes function. * The attacker must convince a user to process the malicious file using a tool that utilizes the vulnerable libbfd library, such as objdump or readelf. Considering the high bar of prerequites for successful exploitation, RH ProdSec has set the Impact of this vulnerability to "Low"
Metrics
No CVSS v4.0 score for this CVE.
No CVSS v3.1 score for this CVE.
CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
1 other source (Red Hat) ▾
CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:L
AV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:N/I:N/A:P
This CVE is not in the KEV list.
No CISA SSVC assessment for this CVE yet.
Estimated probability of exploitation in the wild in the next 30 days (FIRST EPSS). As of Oct 1, 2026.
Score over time
2021–2026- EPSS v1
- EPSS v5
- EPSS v2
- EPSS v3
- EPSS v4
Percentile over time
- EPSS v1
- EPSS v5
- EPSS v2
- EPSS v3
- EPSS v4
Table of values (22 key points)
Flat stretches are collapsed; showing up to 120 newest points.
| Date | Score | Percentile | Model |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 1, 2026 | 2.17% (0.02167) | 81.59th | v5 (v2026.06.15) |
| Sep 22, 2026 | 2.17% (0.02167) | 81.46th | v5 (v2026.06.15) |
| Sep 21, 2026 | 3.77% (0.03774) | 89.48th | v5 (v2026.06.15) |
| Sep 6, 2026 | 2.17% (0.02167) | 81.07th | v5 (v2026.06.15) |
| Sep 5, 2026 | 3.77% (0.03774) | 89.25th | v5 (v2026.06.15) |
| Aug 30, 2026 | 2.17% (0.02167) | 80.97th | v5 (v2026.06.15) |
| Aug 28, 2026 | 3.77% (0.03774) | 89.19th | v5 (v2026.06.15) |
| Aug 24, 2026 | 2.17% (0.02167) | 80.86th | v5 (v2026.06.15) |
| Aug 23, 2026 | 3.77% (0.03774) | 89.14th | v5 (v2026.06.15) |
| Jun 15, 2026 | 2.29% (0.02290) | 80.91th | v5 (v2026.06.15) |
| Mar 17, 2025 | 0.23% (0.00232) | 43.98th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Dec 12, 2024 | 0.36% (0.00365) | 73.28th | v3 (v2023.03.01) |
| Jun 26, 2024 | 0.36% (0.00365) | 72.56th | v3 (v2023.03.01) |
| Feb 8, 2024 | 0.35% (0.00351) | 71.08th | v3 (v2023.03.01) |
| Jan 20, 2024 | 0.35% (0.00351) | 68.97th | v3 (v2023.03.01) |
| Dec 20, 2023 | 0.30% (0.00297) | 66.08th | v3 (v2023.03.01) |
| Sep 3, 2023 | 0.25% (0.00247) | 61.93th | v3 (v2023.03.01) |
| Mar 7, 2023 | 0.24% (0.00241) | 60.29th | v3 (v2023.03.01) |
| Mar 6, 2023 | 1.32% (0.01319) | 71.27th | v2 (v2022.01.01) |
| Feb 4, 2022 | 1.32% (0.01319) | 44.98th | v2 (v2022.01.01) |
| Feb 3, 2022 | 2.26% (0.02262) | 50.78th | v5 (v2026.06.15) |
| Apr 14, 2021 | 2.26% (0.02262) | 0.00th | v1 |
References (10)
- http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2019-10/msg00072.html vendor-advisoryx_refsource_SUSE
- http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2019-11/msg00008.html vendor-advisoryx_refsource_SUSE
- http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/103103 vdb-entryx_refsource_BIDThird Party AdvisoryVDB Entry
- https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2018-6872 Vendor Advisory
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1543969 Issue Tracking
- https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2018-6872
- https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/201811-17 vendor-advisoryx_refsource_GENTOOThird Party Advisory
- https://sourceware.org/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=22788 x_refsource_CONFIRMExploitIssue TrackingPatchThird Party Advisory
- https://sourceware.org/git/gitweb.cgi?p=binutils-gdb.git%3Ba=commit%3Bh=ef135d4314fd4c2d7da66b9d7b59af4a85b0f7e6 x_refsource_CONFIRM
- https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2018-6872
| Link | Providers | Tags |
|---|---|---|
| http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2019-10/msg00072.html | vendor-advisoryx_refsource_SUSE | |
| http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2019-11/msg00008.html | vendor-advisoryx_refsource_SUSE | |
| http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/103103 | vdb-entryx_refsource_BIDThird Party AdvisoryVDB Entry | |
| https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2018-6872 | Vendor Advisory | |
| https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1543969 | Issue Tracking | |
| https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2018-6872 | ||
| https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/201811-17 | vendor-advisoryx_refsource_GENTOOThird Party Advisory | |
| https://sourceware.org/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=22788 | x_refsource_CONFIRMExploitIssue TrackingPatchThird Party Advisory | |
| https://sourceware.org/git/gitweb.cgi?p=binutils-gdb.git%3Ba=commit%3Bh=ef135d4314fd4c2d7da66b9d7b59af4a85b0f7e6 | x_refsource_CONFIRM | |
| https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2018-6872 |
Change history (0)
No recorded changes yet.