CVE-2014-8501

What it actually does

Out-of-bounds write in the BFD library's _bfd_XXi_swap_aouthdr_in function when parsing a crafted NumberOfRvaAndSizes field in the AOUT header of a PE executable, leading to memory corruption.

Why it matters to the business

Processing untrusted PE binaries with affected tools can result in crashes or potential code execution, disrupting build pipelines, malware analysis, and reverse-engineering workflows; the issue has been public for over a decade with available exploits.

How an attack unfolds

An attacker creates a malicious PE executable containing a manipulated AOUT header, then causes a victim system or tool to parse the file using vulnerable binutils components such as objdump or readelf, triggering the memory corruption.

How to fix it

Upgrade the affected package to version 4.5.0-r1 or later; rebuild any downstream containers or distributions that embed vulnerable binutils 2.24 or earlier.

How to confirm the fix worked

Confirm the installed binutils version reports a fixed release; attempt to parse a test PE file containing an oversized NumberOfRvaAndSizes field and verify no crash or corruption occurs.

Typical attack path

1. Craft a PE executable with an invalid NumberOfRvaAndSizes value in the AOUT header
2. Deliver the file to a target that will process it with binutils
3. Trigger parsing of the malformed header
4. Achieve out-of-bounds write resulting in denial of service or potential code execution

How to detect it

Review application and system logs for unexpected crashes or segmentation faults in binutils utilities during PE file processing; search for recent creation or receipt of PE files immediately preceding such events.

What your security team should do

• Apply the fixed package version immediately across all environments
• Inventory and restrict use of binutils tools against untrusted binaries
• Enable sandboxing or container isolation for binary analysis workflows