CVE-2022-4285

Utility crash via corrupt ELF version metadata

Published Jan 27, 2023 · Updated Mar 28, 2025

NULL pointer dereference in GNU Binutils 2.39-7 allows local users to crash a utility by supplying a crafted ELF file. The _bfd_elf_get_symbol_version_string routine follows corrupt symbol-version metadata to a NULL pointer, causing illegal memory access. A user or automated workflow must process the file, and the resulting crash interrupts only the affected utility invocation.

CVSS severity5.5
Medium
EPSS probability0.44%
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 2.39-7 allows local users to crash a utility by supplying a crafted ELF file. The _bfd_elf_get_symbol_version_string routine follows corrupt symbol-version metadata to a NULL pointer, causing illegal memory access. A user or automated workflow must process the file, and the resulting crash interrupts only the affected utility invocation.

The record

CVE
CVE-2022-4285
Published
Jan 27, 2023
Updated
Mar 28, 2025
Vendor
The GnuPG Project
Product
GNU Binutils
Classifications
CWE-476, T1204.002, T1499
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jan 27, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Mar 28, 2025Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=binutils 2.39-7

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

The GnuPG Project · GNU Binutilsversion=binutils 2.39-7

Published CVSS scores

5.5CISA-ADPCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
5.5NVDCVSS: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

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

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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
T1499Endpoint Denial of Service

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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