# CVE-2018-6543: Integer overflow in n/a

> A crafted ELF file triggers an integer overflow in GNU Binutils objdump, 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:** 2 Feb 2018
- **Updated:** 5 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** ALPINE-CVE-2018-6543, DEBIAN-CVE-2018-6543, GHSA-qp5q-3jm8-4774, UBUNTU-CVE-2018-6543

## What is CVE-2018-6543?

CVE-2018-6543 is a high-severity vulnerability in Gnu Binutils, published on 2 Feb 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 2.30, there's an integer overflow in the function load_specific_debug_section() in objdump.c, which results in `malloc()` with 0 size. 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-2018-6543?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Gnu Binutils.

## How do I fix CVE-2018-6543?

Upgrade to a fixed version.

## Is CVE-2018-6543 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2018-6543 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## 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-2018-6543 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2018-6543 is a high-severity vulnerability in Gnu Binutils, published on 2 Feb 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-2018-6543 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-2018-6543/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-6543/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2018-6543
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2018-6543
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2018-6543

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-6543/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.