Binutils: gnu binutils: information disclosure via specially crafted xcoff object file
A flaw was found in GNU Binutils. This heap-based buffer overflow vulnerability, specifically an out-of-bounds read in the bfd linker, allows an attacker to gain access to sensitive information. By convincing a user to process a specially crafted XCOFF object file, an attacker can trigger this flaw, potentially leading to information disclosure or an application level denial of service.
- Published
- Mar 16, 2026
- Updated
- Sep 1, 2026
- EPSS
- 0.2% · 8th percentile
- CWE
- CWE-125
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Report tools
Action score
28
Monitor
Low priority for now.
- CVSS
- 28 / 40 · 7.1 / 10
- CISA KEV
- 0 / 30 · Not listed
- EPSS
- 0 / 30 · 0.2%
CISA SSVC decision
- Exploitation
- none
- Automatable
- no
- Technical impact
- partial
Vulnrichment: CISA's decision-tree inputs.
CNA vs NVD score
- NVD
- 7.1
- CNA · redhat
- 6.1
- 1.0 point gap
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:L
The score given by the assigning authority versus NVD’s independent score. A gap means the severity is contested.
Affected systems
| Vendor | Product | CPE |
|---|---|---|
| gnu | binutils | cpe:2.3:a:gnu:binutils |
| redhat | openshift container platform | cpe:2.3:a:redhat:openshift_container_platform |
| redhat | enterprise linux | cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux |
Affected versions
NVD version ranges (for catalog products). Add the product to your stack with a version and matching uses these.
- gnu binutilsall versions
- redhat enterprise linux10.0
- redhat enterprise linux6.0
- redhat enterprise linux7.0
- redhat enterprise linux8.0
- redhat enterprise linux9.0
- redhat openshift container platform4.0
Versions reported by the vendor
Affected version ranges reported by the assigning authority (redhat). Independent of NVD's CPE analysis and usually ahead of it.
Red Hat Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10
- all versionsunknown
- all versionsunknown
- all versionsunknown
- all versionsunknown
Red Hat Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6
- all versionsaffected
Red Hat Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7
- all versionsunknown
- all versionsunknown
Red Hat Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8
- all versionsunknown
- all versionsunknown
- all versionsunknown
- all versionsunknown
- all versionsunknown
- all versionsunknown
- all versionsunknown
Red Hat Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9
- all versionsunknown
- all versionsunknown
- all versionsunknown
- all versionsunknown
- all versionsunknown
Red Hat Red Hat Hardened Images
- 2.45.1-5.1.hum1 and laternot affected · rpm
- 2.46.1-1.hum1 and laternot affected · rpm
Red Hat Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4
- all versionsunknown
- all versionsunknown
Package-level exposure
OSV and GitHub Advisory data: ecosystem, package and range. SBOM matching uses this table.
| Ecosystem | Package | Affected range | Fix |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debian:12 | binutils | all versions | — |
| Red Hat:hummingbird:1 | binutils | before 0:2.45.1-5.1.hum1 | 0:2.45.1-5.1.hum1 |
| Red Hat:hummingbird:1 | binutils | before 0:2.46.1-1.hum1 | 0:2.46.1-1.hum1 |
Same product
gnu: all recordsOther highest-scoring records for the same primary product.
- CVE-2018-12699finish_stab in stabs.c in GNU Binutils 2.30 allows attackers to cause a denial of service (heap-based buffer overflow) or possibly have unsp40Plan
- CVE-2017-7614elflink.c in the Binary File Descriptor (BFD) library (aka libbfd), as distributed in GNU Binutils 2.28, has a "member access within null po40Plan
- CVE-2014-9939ihex.c in GNU Binutils before 2.26 contains a stack buffer overflow when printing bad bytes in Intel Hex objects.40Plan
- CVE-2017-7226The pe_ILF_object_p function in the Binary File Descriptor (BFD) library (aka libbfd), as distributed in GNU Binutils 2.28, is vulnerable to37Monitor
- CVE-2017-6969readelf in GNU Binutils 2.28 is vulnerable to a heap-based buffer over-read while processing corrupt RL78 binaries.37Monitor
- CVE-2020-19726An issue was discovered in binutils libbfd.c 2.36 relating to the auxiliary symbol data allows attackers to read or write to system memory o35Monitor
Remediation
Which version to upgrade to
Fix versions compiled from the vendor, package registries and Microsoft. Verify the vendor's note before upgrading.
| Product / package | Fixed version | Source |
|---|---|---|
| red hat:binutils | 0:2.45.1-5.1.hum1 · Red Hat:hummingbird:1 | Package registry (OSV) |
Exploit status
No known public exploit
No public exploit has been observed yet. That doesn't mean you're safe, only that the bar is a little higher.
Research context
For pentesters and researchers: attack profile, score disagreement, timeline, patch commits, credits, variant and chain candidates, bug bounty scope. All derived from existing data; no exploit code.
Timeline
From publication to today: proof of concept, Metasploit module, CISA KEV and fix record. Dates are as reported by the sources.
No dated events beyond publication.
FIRST EPSS daily score; only changes of 0.01 or more are recorded (step chart).
Patch and commit links
Commit, PR and diff links among the references. A starting point for patch-diffing and variant hunting; fixes, not exploits.
No commit or PR link among the references.
Credits
All researchersFinders, reporters and analysts named in the CNA record. Click a name for that researcher’s other records.
No credits in the CNA record.
Variant candidates
Same product, same weakness class, within 18 months. If the patch missed the root cause, the sibling bug is here.
- CVE-2026-34420 days apartBinutils: gnu binutils: information disclosure or denial of service via out-of-bounds read in bfd linker28Monitor
- CVE-2026-46477 days apartBinutils: out-of-bounds read in xcoff relocation processing in gnu binutils bfd library24Monitor
Chain candidates
An authentication bypass and a privilege-requiring bug in the same product, published close together: combined they may become an unauthenticated path.
—
Bug bounty scope
No known public program.
Source: bounty-targets-data (public HackerOne, Bugcrowd, Intigriti, YesWeHack listings).
Technical details
Attack conditions
- Someone with local access to the system can trigger it.
- No account or password is required.
- A user must open a link or visit a page.
- No special conditions are required; it is repeatable.
If successful
- Confidentiality
- high · data can be read
- Integrity
- none
- Availability
- high · the service can be disrupted
- Attack vector
- Local
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- Required
- Scope
- Unchanged
- Confidentiality impact
- High
- Integrity impact
- None
- Availability impact
- High
Weakness class (CWE)
CWE-125 · Out-of-bounds ReadCVSS vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:H
nvd-primary
Attack context
MITRE CAPEC attack patterns and ATT&CK techniques for this weakness class (CWE). A starting point for detection rules and threat hunting.
Attack patterns (CAPEC)
ATT&CK techniques
—
Noroxi analysis
No Noroxi analysis for this record yet
We don't hand-write analysis for all 385,000+ vulnerabilities; that wouldn't be honest. For notable, high-impact vulnerabilities our team writes the mechanism, detection and remediation steps.
We use this product, ask for helpChange log
- Fix✗ → ✓
For records you follow, these changes also arrive as notifications. →
References
- access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:33527
- access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:39022
- access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2026-3441
- bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2443826
Vendor advisories and official records. Exploit/PoC links are deliberately left out.