CVE-2025-11494Public exploit

Linker crash via premature GOT section removal

Published Oct 8, 2025 · Updated Oct 8, 2025

Out-of-bounds read in the GNU Binutils 2.45 linker allows local users to crash the linker by supplying a crafted x86 ELF file. In _bfd_x86_elf_late_size_sections, the linker zeros .got.plt when no explicit GOT or PLT entries exist, even though a nonempty .eh_frame can still reference GLOBAL_OFFSET_TABLE. Exploitation requires local execution of the linker against attacker-controlled input and affects availability without reported data disclosure or code execution.

CVSS severity3.3
Low
EPSS probability0.21%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Out-of-bounds read in the GNU Binutils 2.45 linker allows local users to crash the linker by supplying a crafted x86 ELF file. In _bfd_x86_elf_late_size_sections, the linker zeros .got.plt when no explicit GOT or PLT entries exist, even though a nonempty .eh_frame can still reference GLOBAL_OFFSET_TABLE. Exploitation requires local execution of the linker against attacker-controlled input and affects availability without reported data disclosure or code execution.

The record

CVE
CVE-2025-11494
Published
Oct 8, 2025
Updated
Oct 8, 2025
Vendor
The GnuPG Project
Product
GNU Binutils
Classifications
CWE-125, CWE-119
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Oct 8, 2025CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Oct 8, 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=2.45

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The GnuPG Project · GNU Binutilsversion=2.45

Published CVSS scores

5.5NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
3.3VulDBCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:L
1.7VulDBAV:L/AC:L/Au:S/C:N/I:N/A:P

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
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-125Out-of-Bounds Read
CWE-119Improper Restriction of Operations within the Bounds of a Memory Buffer

Public exploit references

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Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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