Improper input validation in binutils
Priority LOW 27CWE-20Published · Updated
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Local
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- Required
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- —
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- None · None · High
- Fix status
- Deferred Red Hat: fix deferred
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · NVD. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat.
Summary
A flaw exists in binutils in bfd/pef.c. An attacker who is able to submit a crafted PEF file to be parsed by objdump could cause a heap buffer overflow -> out-of-bounds read that could lead to an impact to application availability. This flaw affects binutils versions prior to 2.34.
Why it matters now
Exploitation None reported CISA SSVC · not in CISA KEV
EPSS 0.01138 66th percentileScored 2026-11-07
Public exploit Yes 1 exploit referenceTagged by NVD
Fix Deferred Red Hat: fix deferred
SSVC decision points
CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3
- Exploitation
- None
- Automatable
- No
- Technical impact
- Partial
The decision (Track, Attend, Act) also depends on your mission and well-being impact; see CISA's SSVC guide.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | binutils | binutils 2.34 | — | No fix listed | CNA |
- binutils Vendor— Affected binutils 2.34 Fixed in — No fix listed CNA
CPE configurations NVD · 9
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:a:gnu:binutils:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | before 2.34 | Vulnerable | GNU |
| cpe:2.3:o:fedoraproject:fedora:32:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 32 | Vulnerable | Fedoraproject |
| cpe:2.3:a:netapp:cloud_backup:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | not specified by NVD | Vulnerable | NetApp |
| cpe:2.3:a:netapp:ontap_select_deploy_administration_utility:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | not specified by NVD | Vulnerable | NetApp |
| cpe:2.3:a:netapp:solidfire\,_enterprise_sds_\&_hci_storage_node:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | not specified by NVD | Vulnerable | NetApp |
| cpe:2.3:a:netapp:solidfire_\&_hci_management_node:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | not specified by NVD | Vulnerable | NetApp |
| cpe:2.3:o:broadcom:brocade_fabric_operating_system_firmware:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | not specified by NVD | Vulnerable | Broadcom |
| cpe:2.3:o:netapp:hci_compute_node_firmware:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | not specified by NVD | Vulnerable | NetApp |
| cpe:2.3:h:netapp:hci_compute_node:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | not specified by NVD | Running on | NetApp |
- cpe:2.3:a:gnu:binutils:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions before 2.34 Vulnerable ·GNU
- cpe:2.3:o:fedoraproject:fedora:32:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 32 Vulnerable ·Fedoraproject
- cpe:2.3:a:netapp:cloud_backup:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions not specified by NVD Vulnerable ·NetApp
- cpe:2.3:a:netapp:ontap_select_deploy_administration_utility:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions not specified by NVD Vulnerable ·NetApp
- cpe:2.3:a:netapp:solidfire\,_enterprise_sds_\&_hci_storage_node:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions not specified by NVD Vulnerable ·NetApp
- cpe:2.3:a:netapp:solidfire_\&_hci_management_node:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions not specified by NVD Vulnerable ·NetApp
- cpe:2.3:o:broadcom:brocade_fabric_operating_system_firmware:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions not specified by NVD Vulnerable ·Broadcom
- cpe:2.3:o:netapp:hci_compute_node_firmware:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions not specified by NVD Vulnerable ·NetApp
- cpe:2.3:h:netapp:hci_compute_node:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions not specified by NVD Running on ·NetApp
Remediation
No fixed version listed by the sources yet.
Fixed in the same release
Records fixed by the same vendor advisory or release, as the CNA lists them.
- Advisory ·
binutils — FEDORA-2020-28c78a6ac3
4 records Highest priority Priority LOW 4 LOW
Other records, highest priority first
- TI-2020-18016 Use of uninitialized resource in binutilsPriority LOW 29
- TI-2020-18018 NULL pointer dereference in binutilsPriority LOW 27
- TI-2020-18017 NULL pointer dereference in binutilsPriority LOW 27
Vendor assessments
Red Hat
Red Hat rating: Low. Red Hat's page for this CVE →
| Product | Status | Plan or fix |
|---|---|---|
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 | Affected | No fix planned: Out of support scope |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 | Affected | No fix planned: Out of support scope |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 | Affected | No fix yet: Fix deferred |
Not affected: 2 products
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2020-35493
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-w5g7-j55x-m535
- 2026-10-08 CISA SSVC decision points changed
References
Sources
- CVE-2020-35493 · CVE Program
- CVE-2020-35493 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-w5g7-j55x-m535 · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2020-35493 · 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