# CVE-2023-25588: Field `the_bfd` of `asymbol` is uninitialized in function `bfd_mach_o_get_synthetic_symtab`

> An uninitialized field in Binutils can cause application crashes, leading to local denial of service for users processing Mach-O binaries.

- **Severity:** Medium 4.7 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:N/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:** 14 Sep 2023
- **Updated:** 13 Feb 2025
- **Also known as:** DEBIAN-CVE-2023-25588, GHSA-m5xq-q856-p5jf, UBUNTU-CVE-2023-25588

## What is CVE-2023-25588?

CVE-2023-25588 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Gnu Binutils, published on 14 Sep 2023. 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

A flaw was found in Binutils. The field `the_bfd` of `asymbol`struct is uninitialized in the `bfd_mach_o_get_synthetic_symtab` function, which may lead to an application crash and local denial of service.

Weakness: CWE-908 (Use of Uninitialized Resource), CWE-457 (Use of Uninitialized Variable)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2023-25588?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Gnu Binutils.

## How do I fix CVE-2023-25588?

Apply the vendor's patch.

## Is CVE-2023-25588 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2023-25588 exists.

## 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-2023-25588 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2023-25588 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Gnu Binutils, published on 14 Sep 2023. 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: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2023-25588 exists.

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-2023-25588/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-25588/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-25588
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-25588
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2023-25588

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-25588/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.