# CVE-2018-6323: Integer overflow in n/a

> A crafted ELF file triggers an integer overflow in the BFD library, causing a denial of service via application crash.

- **Severity:** High 7.8 (`CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **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:** Yes
- **Published:** 26 Jan 2018
- **Updated:** 5 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** DEBIAN-CVE-2018-6323, GHSA-6j25-67w4-83v9, UBUNTU-CVE-2018-6323

## What is CVE-2018-6323?

CVE-2018-6323 is a high-severity vulnerability in Gnu Binutils, published on 26 Jan 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

The elf_object_p function in elfcode.h in the Binary File Descriptor (BFD) library (aka libbfd), as distributed in GNU Binutils 2.29.1, has an unsigned integer overflow because bfd_size_type multiplication is not used. A crafted ELF file allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (application crash) or possibly have unspecified other impact.

Weakness: CWE-190 (Integer Overflow or Wraparound)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2018-6323?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Gnu Binutils.

## How do I fix CVE-2018-6323?

Apply the vendor's patch.

## Is CVE-2018-6323 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2018-6323 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Public exploit code:

- GNU binutils 2.26.1 - Integer Overflow (PoC) (exploitdb)

## Other vulnerabilities in Gnu Binutils

- [CVE-2017-7614](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-7614/): Null dereference in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2014-9939](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2014-9939/): Memory corruption in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2017-7226](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-7226/): Information disclosure in n/a (critical 9.1)
- [CVE-2017-6969](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-6969/): Information disclosure in n/a (critical 9.1)
- [CVE-2020-19726](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-19726/): Denial of service in n/a (high 8.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2018-6323 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2018-6323 is a high-severity vulnerability in Gnu Binutils, published on 26 Jan 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.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2018-6323 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Gnu Binutils. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-6323/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-6323/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2018-6323
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2018-6323
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2018-6323

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-6323/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.