CVE-2020-35496

Objdump crash via unchecked allocation result

Published Jan 4, 2021 · Updated Aug 4, 2024

NULL pointer dereference in GNU Binutils before 2.34 allows attackers to crash objdump by supplying a crafted PEF file. bfd_pef_scan_start_address() passes an unchecked result from bfd_malloc() to the BFD read routine, which dereferences NULL when allocation fails. Exploitation requires objdump to process the file and only interrupts that objdump process; confidentiality and integrity are unaffected.

CVSS severity5.5
Medium
EPSS probability1.14%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

NULL pointer dereference in GNU Binutils before 2.34 allows attackers to crash objdump by supplying a crafted PEF file. bfd_pef_scan_start_address() passes an unchecked result from bfd_malloc() to the BFD read routine, which dereferences NULL when allocation fails. Exploitation requires objdump to process the file and only interrupts that objdump process; confidentiality and integrity are unaffected.

The record

CVE
CVE-2020-35496
Published
Jan 4, 2021
Updated
Aug 4, 2024
Vendor
The GnuPG Project
Product
GNU Binutils
Classifications
CWE-476, T1204.002
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jan 4, 2021CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 4, 2024Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

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  1. Affected versionversion=binutils 2.34

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

The GnuPG Project · GNU Binutilsversion=binutils 2.34

Published CVSS scores

4.3NIST NVDAV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:N/I:N/A:P
5.5NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

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No observations available

Sep 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-476NULL Pointer Dereference
T1204.002Malicious File

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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