CVE-2017-17126
The load_debug_section function in readelf.c in GNU Binutils 2.29.1 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (invalid memory access and application crash) or possibly have unspecified other impact via an ELF file that lacks section headers.
Does this matter?
High impact if exploited, but EPSS currently rates exploitation as unlikely (1.75%). Schedule it in the normal patch cycle and watch for a rise in EPSS or a public exploit.
Description
The load_debug_section function in readelf.c in GNU Binutils 2.29.1 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (invalid memory access and application crash) or possibly have unspecified other impact via an ELF file that lacks section headers.
- CVSS 3.0
- 7.8 HIGHCVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
- EPSS
- 1.75% probability · 78th percentile
- Public exploits
- None in Exploit-DB
- CISA KEV
- Not listed
- Weakness
- CWE-119
- Affected
- gnu/binutils
- Source
- cve@mitre.org
EPSS moved from 2.8% on 21 September 2026 to 1.7% on 27 October 2026.
References
- https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/201811-17Third Party Advisory
- https://sourceware.org/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=22510Exploit, Issue Tracking, Patch, Third Party Advisory
- https://sourceware.org/git/gitweb.cgi?p=binutils-gdb.git%3Bh=f425ec6600b69e39eb605f3128806ff688137ea8
- https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/201811-17Third Party Advisory
- https://sourceware.org/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=22510Exploit, Issue Tracking, Patch, Third Party Advisory
- https://sourceware.org/git/gitweb.cgi?p=binutils-gdb.git%3Bh=f425ec6600b69e39eb605f3128806ff688137ea8
Source: NVD record, EPSS from FIRST.org, KEV from CISA, exploits from Exploit-DB. Refreshed daily. Download this record as JSON.