CVE-2017-9778: GNU Debugger (GDB) 8.0 and earlier fails to detect a negative length field in a DWARF section. A malformed section in an ELF binary or a core file can...

Description

GNU Debugger (GDB) 8.0 and earlier fails to detect a negative length field in a DWARF section. A malformed section in an ELF binary or a core file can cause GDB to repeatedly allocate memory until a process limit is reached. This can, for example, impede efforts to analyze malware with GDB.

Metrics

EPSS Probability

1.11%

61.8th percentile

Probability of exploitation in the next 30 days. Learn more

Weakness Enumeration

Affected Software

Vendor	Product	Versions
Gnu	Gdb	<= 8.0

References

http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/99244Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
https://sourceware.org/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=21600Issue Tracking, Third Party Advisory
http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/99244Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
https://sourceware.org/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=21600Issue Tracking, Third Party Advisory

Timeline

Published: Jun 21, 2017
Last Modified: Jun 17, 2026
Status: Modified

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2017-9778?

GNU Debugger (GDB) 8.0 and earlier fails to detect a negative length field in a DWARF section. A malformed section in an ELF binary or a core file can cause GDB to repeatedly allocate memory until a process limit is reached. This can, for example, impede efforts to analyze malware with GDB.

How severe is CVE-2017-9778?

Severity scoring for CVE-2017-9778 is pending analysis. The EPSS model estimates a 1.11% probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

How do I fix CVE-2017-9778?

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.

How Strix Helps

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