CVE-2018-20623
In GNU Binutils 2.31.1, there is a use-after-free in the error function in elfcomm.c when called from the process_archive function in readelf.c via a crafted ELF file.
02 Description
In GNU Binutils 2.31.1, there is a use-after-free in the error function in elfcomm.c when called from the process_archive function in readelf.c via a crafted ELF file.
03 Exploitation and scoring
- Exploitation
- Public exploit code exists. CISA's assessment records a public proof of concept. That is not a report of exploitation in the wild.
- SSVC decision
- ExploitationpocPublic proof-of-concept exploit code exists. Not a report of exploitation in the wild.
- AutomatablenoAt least one step from reconnaissance to exploitation cannot be reliably automated.
- Technical ImpactpartialSuccessful exploitation gives limited control of the vulnerable component.
- EPSS probability
- 1.81% probability of exploitation activity in the next 30 days.
- EPSS percentile
- Equal to or higher than the score of 78.2% of scored records. A rank, not a probability.
- NVD base score
- 5.5 (CVSS v3.x), scored by the NVD independently of the CNA.
- NVD CVSS vector
- CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
- NVD analysis status
- Modified. NVD last modified this record on 2026-06-17.
- Red Hat severity
- Moderate. Red Hat's rating for its own products, not a CVSS rating.
Exploit-prediction scores from FIRST. Independent scoring and analysis status from the NVD. Vendor severity from Red Hat. Exploitation assessment and catalog membership from CISA.
04 Metadata
- Published
- 2018-12-31 19:00Z7 YR AGO
- Last updated
- 2025-05-06 18:03Z1 YR AGO
- Reserved
- 2018-12-31
- Assigning CNA
- mitre
- Record state
- PUBLISHED
- Severity
- Medium (CVSS 5.5)
- CNA CVSS vector
- CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
- Weaknesses
- CWE-416Use After FreeVariant
- Data version
- 5.1
- Document digest
- 930397319b760328244d1cf8b7baf78bb92141ba8a2d64dbc51c8dae792608f4
05 Affected products
06 References
- www.securityfocus.com106370http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/106370
- sourceware.orghttps://sourceware.org/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=24049
- support.f5.comhttps://support.f5.com/csp/article/K38336243
- lists.opensuse.orgopenSUSE-SU-2019:2415http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2019-10/msg00072.html
- lists.opensuse.orgopenSUSE-SU-2019:2432http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2019-11/msg00008.html
- usn.ubuntu.comUSN-4336-1https://usn.ubuntu.com/4336-1/
07 Fixed in
Debian 12
- binutils Fixed in 2.32.51.20190707-1
Source: Debian Security Tracker, the Debian security team. Received through OSV.dev. Reformatted by exploit.cc.
Debian 13
- binutils Fixed in 2.32.51.20190707-1
Source: Debian Security Tracker, the Debian security team. Received through OSV.dev. Reformatted by exploit.cc.
Debian 14
- binutils Fixed in 2.32.51.20190707-1
Source: Debian Security Tracker, the Debian security team. Received through OSV.dev. Reformatted by exploit.cc.
Ubuntu 18.04 LTS
- binutils Fixed in 2.30-21ubuntu1~18.04.3
Source: Ubuntu, Canonical Ltd. Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Received through OSV.dev. Reformatted by exploit.cc.
Ubuntu Pro 14.04 LTS
- binutils No fix yet
Source: Ubuntu, Canonical Ltd. Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Received through OSV.dev. Reformatted by exploit.cc.
Ubuntu Pro 16.04 LTS
- binutils Fixed in 2.26.1-1ubuntu1~16.04.8+esm1Available with Ubuntu Pro (Infra-only): https://ubuntu.com/pro
Source: Ubuntu, Canonical Ltd. Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Received through OSV.dev. Reformatted by exploit.cc.
A release or ecosystem missing from this list has no record here. It may be unaffected or not covered by the source. Source notices and licences.