CVE-2017-15020

Name: CVE-2017-15020
Creator: NVD / NIST
Published: 2017-10-05T01:29:06.103+00:00
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/

UnknownEPSS 2.17%

Last modified Jun 17, 2026

CVE-2017-15020 is a vulnerability of currently unknown severity. dwarf1.c in the Binary File Descriptor (BFD) library (aka libbfd), as distributed in GNU Binutils 2.29, mishandles pointers, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (application crash) or possibly have unspecified other impact via a crafted ELF file, related to parse_die and parse_line_table, as demonstrated by a parse_die heap-based buffer over-read.. EPSS estimates a 2.17% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days.

Description

dwarf1.c in the Binary File Descriptor (BFD) library (aka libbfd), as distributed in GNU Binutils 2.29, mishandles pointers, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (application crash) or possibly have unspecified other impact via a crafted ELF file, related to parse_die and parse_line_table, as demonstrated by a parse_die heap-based buffer over-read.

Metrics

EPSS Probability

2.17%

79.9th percentile

Probability of exploitation in the next 30 days. Learn more

Weakness Enumeration

CWE-125

Affected Software

Vendor	Product	Versions
Gnu	Binutils	2.29

References

https://blogs.gentoo.org/ago/2017/10/03/binutils-heap-based-buffer-overflow-in-parse_die-dwarf1-c/Patch, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
https://sourceware.org/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=22202Issue Tracking, Patch, Third Party Advisory
https://sourceware.org/git/gitweb.cgi?p=binutils-gdb.git%3Bh=1da5c9a485f3dcac4c45e96ef4b7dae5948314b5
https://blogs.gentoo.org/ago/2017/10/03/binutils-heap-based-buffer-overflow-in-parse_die-dwarf1-c/Patch, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
https://sourceware.org/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=22202Issue Tracking, Patch, Third Party Advisory
https://sourceware.org/git/gitweb.cgi?p=binutils-gdb.git%3Bh=1da5c9a485f3dcac4c45e96ef4b7dae5948314b5

Timeline

Published: Oct 5, 2017
Last Modified: Jun 17, 2026
Status: Modified

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2017-15020?

How severe is CVE-2017-15020?

Severity scoring for CVE-2017-15020 is pending analysis. The EPSS model estimates a 2.17% probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

How do I fix CVE-2017-15020?

Check the vendor references and advisories linked above for patched versions and mitigation guidance. You can also run a Strix scan to test if your systems are affected.

Are you affected by CVE-2017-15020?

Run a free Strix scan to check your systems for this vulnerability.

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Source: NVD / NIST