CVE-2023-25586Public exploit

Local process crash via uninitialized compression type

Published Sep 14, 2023 · Updated Feb 13, 2025

Use of an uninitialized variable in GNU Binutils allows local users to crash a utility by processing a crafted compressed section. In bfd_init_section_decompress_status, one branch skips bfd_check_compression_header, then copies uninitialized ch_type into sec->compress_status. The crash occurs only when a user or another program passes a crafted object file to an affected BFD-based utility, interrupting that process rather than the host.

CVSS severity5.5
Medium
EPSS probability0.35%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
Coverage for this vulnerability

See if you're affected

Explore vulnerability checks for your environment with Hinoki.

Book a demo

Summary

What happened

Use of an uninitialized variable in GNU Binutils allows local users to crash a utility by processing a crafted compressed section. In bfd_init_section_decompress_status, one branch skips bfd_check_compression_header, then copies uninitialized ch_type into sec->compress_status. The crash occurs only when a user or another program passes a crafted object file to an affected BFD-based utility, interrupting that process rather than the host.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-25586
Published
Sep 14, 2023
Updated
Feb 13, 2025
Vendor
The GnuPG Project
Product
GNU Binutils
Classifications
CWE-457, CWE-908, T1204.002
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Sep 14, 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

Compare your product and version with the public record. A matching version still requires validation against your environment.

Is a vulnerable build present?

Affected versions are unavailable in this record. Check the vendor advisory for version and patch details.

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

The GnuPG Project · GNU BinutilsAffected versions are unavailable in this record.

Published CVSS scores

5.5NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
4.7Red Hat, Inc.CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/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.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

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 exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-457Use of Uninitialized Variable
CWE-908Use of Uninitialized Resource
T1204.002Malicious File

Public exploit references

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

See the directory against your own environment.

Your stack

Check the software in your environment

Book a demo to see how Hinoki identifies affected software and validates exploitability in your environment.

Book a demo