CVE-2023-1579

Crash via undersized DWARF address bounds check

Published Apr 3, 2023 · Updated Feb 13, 2025

Heap buffer over-read in GNU Binutils 2.39 allows local users to crash BFD-based tools by supplying a crafted DWARF file. In read_indexed_address, the bounds check reserves unit->offset_size bytes even when bfd_getl64 reads unit->addr_size bytes from .debug_addr. A user or automated workflow must make a BFD-consuming utility parse the malformed file; public evidence establishes an illegal memory access and crash, not code execution.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.49%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Heap buffer over-read in GNU Binutils 2.39 allows local users to crash BFD-based tools by supplying a crafted DWARF file. In read_indexed_address, the bounds check reserves unit->offset_size bytes even when bfd_getl64 reads unit->addr_size bytes from .debug_addr. A user or automated workflow must make a BFD-consuming utility parse the malformed file; public evidence establishes an illegal memory access and crash, not code execution.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-1579
Published
Apr 3, 2023
Updated
Feb 13, 2025
Vendor
The GnuPG Project
Product
GNU Binutils
Classifications
CWE-119, CWE-787, T1203
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Apr 3, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Feb 13, 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?

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  1. Affected versionversion=unknown

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

The GnuPG Project · GNU Binutilsversion=unknown

Published CVSS scores

7.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.8CISA-ADPCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/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 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-119Improper Restriction of Operations within the Bounds of a Memory Buffer
CWE-787Out-of-bounds Write
T1203Exploitation for Client Execution

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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