The bfd_cache_close function in bfd/cache.c in the Binary File Descriptor (BFD) library…
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Local
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- Required
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- Code execution
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- High · High · High
- Fix status
- No fix listed
Attack profile from CVSS 3.0 · NVD. Fix status from CNA. Impact type from CWE-416 and the CVSS impact.
Summary
The bfd_cache_close function in bfd/cache.c in the Binary File Descriptor (BFD) library (aka libbfd), as distributed in GNU Binutils 2.29 and earlier, allows remote attackers to cause a heap use after free and possibly achieve code execution via a crafted nested archive file. This issue occurs because incorrect functions are called during an attempt to release memory. The issue can be addressed by better input validation in the bfd_generic_archive_p function in bfd/archive.c.
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
Not available: CISA has not published SSVC decision points for this record.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | — | all versions | — | No fix listed | CNA |
- — Vendor— Affected all versions Fixed in — No fix listed CNA
Remediation
No fixed version listed by the sources yet.
Vendor assessments
Red Hat
Red Hat rating: Moderate. Red Hat's page for this CVE →
Not affected: 3 products
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2017-12448
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-vcp5-9fw7-xm53
References
More GNU Binutils vulnerabilities
- TI-2020-13695 An issue was discovered in binutils libbfd.c 2.36 relating to the auxiliary symbol data… CVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
- TI-2025-42907 GNU Binutils thru 2.46 readelf contains a double free vulnerability when processing a… CVSS 3.1HIGH 7.5
- TI-2025-41071 An issue was discovered in function d_print_comp_inner in file cp-demangle.c in BinUtils… CVSS 3.1HIGH 7.5
- TI-2025-41069 An issue was discovered in function d_discriminator in file cp-demangle.c in BinUtils… CVSS 3.1HIGH 7.5
- TI-2025-41068 A buffer overflow vulnerability in function gnu_special in file cplus-dem.c in BinUtils… CVSS 3.1HIGH 7.5
- TI-2021-21105 Heap-based Buffer Overflow in function bfd_getl32 in Binutils objdump 3.37. CVSS 3.1HIGH 7.5
Sources
- CVE-2017-12448 · CVE Program
- CVE-2017-12448 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-vcp5-9fw7-xm53 · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2017-12448 · Red Hat security data · CC BY 4.0
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences