CVE-2025-1148Public exploitNetwork attack vector

Process-memory exhaustion via unreleased linker allocations

Published Feb 10, 2025 · Updated Apr 4, 2025

Memory leak in GNU Binutils ld 2.43 allows remote attackers to exhaust process memory through a crafted linker input. In link_order_scan and related linker-script paths, allocations made with xmalloc remain unreleased because parser memory lacks consistent lifetime cleanup. The issue is reached only when a user runs ld on attacker-controlled input, and its bounded effect is increased process memory consumption.

CVSS severity2.3
Low
EPSS probability0.64%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Memory leak in GNU Binutils ld 2.43 allows remote attackers to exhaust process memory through a crafted linker input. In link_order_scan and related linker-script paths, allocations made with xmalloc remain unreleased because parser memory lacks consistent lifetime cleanup. The issue is reached only when a user runs ld on attacker-controlled input, and its bounded effect is increased process memory consumption.

The record

CVE
CVE-2025-1148
Published
Feb 10, 2025
Updated
Apr 4, 2025
Vendor
The GnuPG Project
Product
GNU Binutils
Classifications
CWE-401, CWE-404, T1499.004
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Feb 10, 2025CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Apr 4, 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=2.43

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

The GnuPG Project · GNU Binutilsversion=2.43

Published CVSS scores

2.6VulDBAV:N/AC:H/Au:N/C:N/I:N/A:P
2.3VulDBCVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:H/AT:N/PR:N/UI:P/VC:N/VI:N/VA:L/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N
3.1VulDBCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:L

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)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-401Missing Release of Memory after Effective Lifetime
CWE-404Improper Resource Shutdown or Release
T1499.004Application or System Exploitation

Public exploit references

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

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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