CVE-2018-20623 Use after free in n/a

Medium 5.5 Published 31 Dec 2018 Updated 6 May 2025

A use-after-free vulnerability in GNU Binutils allows attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service via a crafted ELF file.

Exploited in the wild: Not known
Login needed: Not needed
Attackable: Local or same network only
Victim action needed: A user has to click or open something
Fix: Available

What is CVE-2018-20623?

CVE-2018-20623 is a medium-severity use after free vulnerability in Gnu Binutils, published on 31 Dec 2018. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.

Official description

In GNU Binutils 2.31.1, there is a use-after-free in the error function in elfcomm.c when called from the process_archive function in readelf.c via a crafted ELF file.

Weakness: CWE-416

Which versions are affected by CVE-2018-20623?

It affects 1 product.

Products include Gnu Binutils.

How do I fix CVE-2018-20623?

Apply the vendor's patch.

Upgrade to the fixed version. These bugs are found with fuzzing and sanitisers and avoided by memory-safe languages. More about Use after free.

Is CVE-2018-20623 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2018-20623 exists.

All Gnu Binutils vulnerabilities

Sources

Also known as DEBIAN-CVE-2018-20623, GHSA-m2v7-7635-wpj6, UBUNTU-CVE-2018-20623.