CVE-2025-11083
📋 TL;DR
A heap-based buffer overflow vulnerability in GNU Binutils' linker component allows local attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause denial of service. This affects systems using Binutils 2.45 for compiling or linking programs. Attackers must have local access to exploit this vulnerability.
💻 Affected Systems
- GNU Binutils
📦 What is this software?
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Local privilege escalation leading to full system compromise, arbitrary code execution, or persistent backdoor installation.
Likely Case
Denial of service through application crashes or limited code execution within the context of the vulnerable process.
If Mitigated
Minimal impact if proper access controls limit local user privileges and process isolation is enforced.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploit details have been publicly disclosed in bug reports. Attack requires local access and ability to trigger the vulnerable linker function.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: 2.46 or later
Vendor Advisory: https://sourceware.org/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=33457
Restart Required: No
Instructions:
1. Update Binutils to version 2.46 or later. 2. Apply the specific patch with commit hash 9ca499644a21ceb3f946d1c179c38a83be084490. 3. Recompile any affected binaries using the updated linker.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Restrict local user access
allLimit access to development/build systems to trusted users only
Use alternative linker
allTemporarily use a different linker version if available
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Implement strict access controls on development/build systems
- Monitor for suspicious linking operations and process crashes
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check Binutils version: ld --version | grep 'GNU ld' and verify if version is 2.45Check Version:
ld --version | grep 'GNU ld'Verify Fix Applied:
Verify Binutils version is 2.46 or later, or check that commit 9ca499644a21ceb3f946d1c179c38a83be084490 is applied📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Segmentation faults in linker processes
- Unusual linking operations from non-privileged users
Network Indicators:
- None - local exploit only
SIEM Query:
Process: ld AND (ExitCode: 139 OR ExitCode: 11) OR Process: as AND ExitCode: 139🔗 References
- https://sourceware.org/bugzilla/attachment.cgi?id=16353
- https://sourceware.org/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=33457
- https://sourceware.org/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=33457#c1
- https://sourceware.org/git/gitweb.cgi?p=binutils-gdb.git;h=9ca499644a21ceb3f946d1c179c38a83be084490
- https://vuldb.com/?ctiid.326124
- https://vuldb.com/?id.326124
- https://vuldb.com/?submit.661277
- https://www.gnu.org/
- https://sourceware.org/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=33457
- https://sourceware.org/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=33457#c1
