A vulnerability has been found in GNU elfutils 0.192 and classified as problematic. This vulnerability affects the function handle_dynamic_symtab of the file readelf.c of the component eu-read. The manipulation leads to null pointer dereference. Attacking locally is a requirement. The exploit has been disclosed to the public and may be used. The patch is identified as b38e562a4c907e08171c76b8b2def8464d5a104a. It is recommended to apply a patch to fix this issue.
The severity of this vulnerability, rated at 4.8 on the CVSS scale, indicates a medium threat level. The attack vector is local, with low complexity required for exploitation. Affected organizations should address this vulnerability in their priority patch cycle to mitigate potential risks.
Risk to organizations includes the potential for denial of service due to the null pointer dereference. The exploitation of this vulnerability could lead to service disruption, affecting operational efficiency.
Organizations should prioritize patching immediately.
Vulnerability Details
The vulnerability involves a null pointer dereference in the GNU elfutils, specifically in the eu-read component. This issue has been publicly disclosed and requires local access for exploitation.
The vulnerability is classified under CWE-404 and CWE-476, indicating improper resource management and null pointer dereference issues.
Published on February 17, 2025, this vulnerability is considered medium severity due to its potential impacts on availability.
Technical Analysis
The root cause of this vulnerability lies in the handling of dynamic symbol tables within the readelf.c file. When the function handle_dynamic_symtab is manipulated, it can lead to a null pointer dereference, resulting in a crash of the affected application.
The attack vector is local, meaning that an attacker must have local access to the system to exploit this vulnerability. The attack complexity is low, and only low privileges are required for exploitation.
User interaction is not required, and the impacts on confidentiality and integrity are none, while there is a low impact on availability.
Risk & Impact Analysis
The real-world deployment risk associated with this vulnerability is significant, particularly in environments where GNU elfutils is utilized. Attackers may leverage this vulnerability to disrupt operations by causing application crashes, which could lead to downtime.
The blast radius potential for this vulnerability is moderate, as it affects local users and could disrupt services across multiple applications relying on elfutils.
Organizations are urged to address this vulnerability in their priority patch cycle, given its medium severity rating.
Exploitation Status
Signal | Status |
|---|---|
Known Exploit | No |
Public PoC | No |
Actively Exploited | No |
Ransomware Use | No |
Affected Versions
The affected version of the component is GNU elfutils 0.192. Organizations using this version should apply the recommended patch identified as b38e562a4c907e08171c76b8b2def8464d5a104a.
Mitigation & Remediation
To mitigate this vulnerability, organizations should apply the patch identified as b38e562a4c907e08171c76b8b2def8464d5a104a. If patching is not possible, consider implementing the following workarounds:
1. Restrict local access to the affected systems to trusted users only.
2. Monitor logs for any unusual access patterns or errors related to the eu-read component.
3. Consider implementing network controls to limit exposure of the affected systems.
For further guidance on security testing, organizations can refer to our penetration testing services that help identify vulnerabilities effectively.
Detection Guidance
Organizations should monitor their systems for the following indicators of compromise related to this vulnerability:
1. Log entries indicating attempts to access the handle_dynamic_symtab function.
2. Behavioral anomalies in the eu-read component that may indicate exploitation attempts.
AppSecure Threat Intelligence Insight
The long-term significance of this vulnerability lies in its potential to disrupt local applications using GNU elfutils, especially in environments with limited access controls. Security teams should recognize this as a critical reminder of the importance of securing local access points.
This vulnerability highlights the need for continuous monitoring and proactive security measures, including regular updates and patch management.
For best practices in vulnerability management, organizations can refer to our vulnerability management program design guide.
Additionally, organizations should consider our penetration testing methodology to effectively identify and manage vulnerabilities.
Finally, organizations should remain vigilant and proactive in their security posture to mitigate the risks associated with vulnerabilities like CVE-2025-1371.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
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