CVE-2025-1372
📋 TL;DR
A critical buffer overflow vulnerability in GNU elfutils' eu-readelf tool allows local attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause denial of service by manipulating specially crafted ELF files. This affects systems running vulnerable versions of elfutils where eu-readelf processes untrusted ELF files. The vulnerability requires local access to the system.
💻 Affected Systems
- GNU elfutils
📦 What is this software?
Elfutils by Elfutils Project
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Local privilege escalation leading to full system compromise, arbitrary code execution as the user running eu-readelf, or complete system crash.
Likely Case
Denial of service (eu-readelf crash) or limited code execution within the context of the user running the vulnerable binary.
If Mitigated
Minimal impact if proper access controls prevent untrusted users from running eu-readelf on malicious files.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploit requires local access and ability to run eu-readelf on a malicious ELF file. Public exploit details available in bug tracker attachments.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: Versions after commit 73db9d2021cab9e23fd734b0a76a612d52a6f1db
Vendor Advisory: https://sourceware.org/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=32656
Restart Required: No
Instructions:
1. Update elfutils package from your distribution's repositories. 2. For source installations: apply patch from commit 73db9d2021cab9e23fd734b0a76a612d52a6f1db and recompile. 3. Verify eu-readelf version after update.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Restrict eu-readelf execution
linuxLimit which users can execute eu-readelf using filesystem permissions or mandatory access controls
chmod 750 /usr/bin/eu-readelf
setfacl -m u:trusteduser:rx /usr/bin/eu-readelf
Remove eu-readelf
linuxUninstall eu-readelf if not required for system operation
apt remove elfutils
yum remove elfutils
dnf remove elfutils
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Implement strict access controls to prevent untrusted users from running eu-readelf
- Monitor for suspicious eu-readelf execution patterns and file access
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Run: eu-readelf --version | grep 'elfutils' && test $(eu-readelf --version | grep -o '[0-9]\+\.[0-9]\+' | head -1) <= 0.192Check Version:
eu-readelf --version | grep 'elfutils'Verify Fix Applied:
Check version is >0.192: eu-readelf --version | grep 'elfutils' && test $(eu-readelf --version | grep -o '[0-9]\+\.[0-9]\+' | head -1) > 0.192📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Segmentation fault or crash logs from eu-readelf process
- Unusual eu-readelf execution by non-privileged users
Network Indicators:
- None - local exploit only
SIEM Query:
process.name:"eu-readelf" AND (event.action:"segmentation_fault" OR event.outcome:"failure")🔗 References
- https://sourceware.org/bugzilla/attachment.cgi?id=15927
- https://sourceware.org/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=32656
- https://sourceware.org/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=32656#c3
- https://sourceware.org/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=32657
- https://vuldb.com/?ctiid.295981
- https://vuldb.com/?id.295981
- https://vuldb.com/?submit.496485
- https://www.gnu.org/
