# CVE-2025-11839: GNU Binutils prdbg.c tg_tag_type return value

> A local attacker can exploit an unchecked return value in GNU Binutils, potentially leading to undefined behavior or application instability.

- **Severity:** Medium 4.8 (`CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:N/VI:N/VA:L/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:P`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 16 Oct 2025
- **Updated:** 15 Oct 2026
- **Also known as:** AZL-68772, AZL-68775, BELL-CVE-2025-11839, CLSA-2025-1767028936, DEBIAN-CVE-2025-11839, ECHO-35a6-e58d-a2d7, GHSA-6fvj-8p6j-8wxg, MINI-pfgj-mwrh-9xm5, ROOT-OS-DEBIAN-12-CVE-2025-11839, UBUNTU-CVE-2025-11839

## What is CVE-2025-11839?

CVE-2025-11839 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Gnu Binutils, published on 16 Oct 2025. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

A security flaw has been discovered in GNU Binutils 2.45. Impacted is the function tg_tag_type of the file prdbg.c. Performing a manipulation results in unchecked return value. The attack needs to be approached locally. The exploit has been released to the public and may be used for attacks.

Weakness: CWE-253 (Incorrect Check of Function Return Value), CWE-252 (Unchecked Return Value)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2025-11839?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Gnu Binutils.

## How do I fix CVE-2025-11839?

Apply the vendor's patch.

## Is CVE-2025-11839 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2025-11839 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-2025-11839 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2025-11839 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Gnu Binutils, published on 16 Oct 2025. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2025-11839 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-2025-11839/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-11839/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2025-11839
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-11839
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2025-11839

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-11839/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.