GNU Binutils ELF Section elf64-x86-64.c elf_x86_64_common_section_index null pointer dereference
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Local
- Privileges required
- Low
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Attack requirements
- None
- Impact type
- Denial of service
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- None · None · Low
- Fix status
- Fixed
Attack profile from CVSS 4.0 · CNA. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat. Impact type from CWE-404.
Summary
A security vulnerability has been detected in GNU Binutils 2.47. Affected is the function elf_x86_64_common_section_index of the file bfd/elf64-x86-64.c of the component ELF Section Handler. The manipulation leads to null pointer dereference. The attack needs to be performed locally. The exploit has been disclosed publicly and may be used. Upgrading to version 2.48 is able to address this issue. The identifier of the patch is 7322e9bc30cb282575a701c307851fd3d66fee68. It is suggested to upgrade the affected component.
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3
- Exploitation
- Poc
- 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
Remediation
- Fix · CNA Binutils (GNU) Fixed in 2.48
Red Hat 1 advisory
- RHSA-2026:67961 Released 2026-09-16 · Red Hat rating ModerateRed Hat Hardened Images RPMs Security Update
- Red Hat Hardened Images binutils-2.46.1-1.2.hum1@aarch64, binutils-2.46.1-1.2.hum1@src, binutils-2.46.1-1.2.hum1@x86_64 +6
Vendor assessments
Red Hat
Red Hat rating: Low. Red Hat's page for this CVE →
| Product | Status | Plan or fix |
|---|---|---|
| Red Hat Hardened Images | Fixed | RHSA-2026:67961 |
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-91781
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-x33g-4rqc-v4wq
- 2026-10-20 Fix available: RHSA-2026:67961 · Red Hat
- 2026-10-20 Fix available: Red Hat Hardened Images · Red Hat
- 2026-10-20 CVSS score added · Red Hat
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-2026-91781 · CVE Program
- CVE-2026-91781 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-x33g-4rqc-v4wq · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2026-91781 · Red Hat security data · CC BY 4.0
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