# CVE-2025-1181: GNU Binutils ld elflink.c _bfd_elf_gc_mark_rsec memory corruption

> A memory corruption vulnerability in the GNU Binutils linker allows remote attackers to potentially execute code or cause denial of service via crafted ELF files.

- **Severity:** Low 2.3 (`CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:H/AT:N/PR:N/UI:P/VC:L/VI:L/VA:L/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** A user has to click or open something
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 11 Feb 2025
- **Updated:** 25 Apr 2025
- **Also known as:** AZL-56558, AZL-56664, BELL-CVE-2025-1181, CLSA-2025-1766657780, DEBIAN-CVE-2025-1181, ECHO-2d82-28f6-b8f6, GHSA-pm93-pg55-r2jm, UBUNTU-CVE-2025-1181

## What is CVE-2025-1181?

CVE-2025-1181 is a low-severity memory corruption vulnerability in Gnu Binutils, published on 11 Feb 2025. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.

### Official description

A vulnerability classified as critical was found in GNU Binutils 2.43. This vulnerability affects the function _bfd_elf_gc_mark_rsec of the file bfd/elflink.c of the component ld. The manipulation leads to memory corruption. The attack can be initiated remotely. The complexity of an attack is rather high. The exploitation appears to be difficult. The exploit has been disclosed to the public and may be used. The name of the patch is 931494c9a89558acb36a03a340c01726545eef24. It is recommended to apply a patch to fix this issue.

Weakness: CWE-119 (Improper Restriction of Operations within the Bounds of a Memory Buffer)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2025-1181?

It affects 3 products.


Products: Gnu Binutils, Netapp Active Iq Unified Manager, Netapp Ontap Select Deploy Administration Utility.

## How do I fix CVE-2025-1181?

Apply the vendor's patch.

## Is CVE-2025-1181 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2025-1181 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-2025-1181 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2025-1181 is a low-severity memory corruption vulnerability in Gnu Binutils, published on 11 Feb 2025. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, 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-2025-1181 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-2025-1181/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-1181/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2025-1181
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-1181
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2025-1181

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-1181/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.