CVE-2017-14939

MEDIUM

GNU Binutils 2.29 - Heap-Based Buffer Over-Read in decode_line_info

Title source: llm
STIX 2.1

Exploitation Summary

EIP tracks 1 public exploit for CVE-2017-14939. PoCs published by Agostino Sarubbo.

AI-analyzed exploit summary This exploit demonstrates a heap-based buffer overflow in binutils' `read_1_byte` function in `dwarf2.c`, triggered by processing a malformed binary file with `nm`. The vulnerability can lead to a crash or potential arbitrary code execution.

Description

decode_line_info in dwarf2.c in the Binary File Descriptor (BFD) library (aka libbfd), as distributed in GNU Binutils 2.29, mishandles a length calculation, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (heap-based buffer over-read and application crash) via a crafted ELF file, related to read_1_byte.

Exploits (1)

exploitdb WORKING POC
by Agostino Sarubbo · textdoslinux
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/42970

This exploit demonstrates a heap-based buffer overflow in binutils' `read_1_byte` function in `dwarf2.c`, triggered by processing a malformed binary file with `nm`. The vulnerability can lead to a crash or potential arbitrary code execution.

Classification
Working Poc 100%
Attack Type
Dos
Complexity
Trivial
Reliability
Reliable
Target: binutils 2.29.51.20170921 and possibly earlier versions
No auth needed
Prerequisites: A malformed binary file to trigger the overflow
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 16, 2026 Full analysis →

References (5)

Core 5
Core References
Exploit, Third Party Advisory exploit x_refsource_exploit-db
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/42970/
Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry vdb-entry x_refsource_bid
http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/101216
Issue Tracking, Patch, Third Party Advisory x_refsource_misc
https://sourceware.org/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=22169

Scores

CVSS v3 5.5
EPSS 0.0594
EPSS Percentile 92.4%
Attack Vector LOCAL
CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

Details

CWE
CWE-125
Status published
Products (1)
gnu/binutils 2.29
Published Sep 30, 2017
Tracked Since Feb 18, 2026