# CVE-2025-8224: GNU Binutils BFD Library elf.c bfd_elf_get_str_section null pointer dereference

> A local attacker can cause a denial of service via null pointer dereference in the GNU Binutils BFD library.

- **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:** 27 Jul 2025
- **Updated:** 15 Oct 2026
- **Also known as:** ALPINE-CVE-2025-8224, BELL-CVE-2025-8224, DEBIAN-CVE-2025-8224, ECHO-ada5-4a5c-cd14, GHSA-jff4-5h8q-wpxm, MINI-3p78-9pgc-4543, ROOT-OS-DEBIAN-12-CVE-2025-8224

## What is CVE-2025-8224?

CVE-2025-8224 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Gnu Binutils, published on 27 Jul 2025. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

A vulnerability has been found in GNU Binutils 2.44 and classified as problematic. This vulnerability affects the function bfd_elf_get_str_section of the file bfd/elf.c of the component BFD Library. The manipulation leads to null pointer dereference. Local access is required to approach this attack. The exploit has been disclosed to the public and may be used. The name of the patch is db856d41004301b3a56438efd957ef5cabb91530. It is recommended to apply a patch to fix this issue.

Weakness: CWE-476 (NULL Pointer Dereference), CWE-404 (Improper Resource Shutdown or Release)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2025-8224?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Gnu Binutils.

## How do I fix CVE-2025-8224?

Apply the vendor's patch.

## Is CVE-2025-8224 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2025-8224 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-2025-8224 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2025-8224 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Gnu Binutils, published on 27 Jul 2025. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2025-8224 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-2025-8224/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-8224/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2025-8224
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-8224
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2025-8224

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-8224/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.