CVE-2025-1372

What it actually does

Local buffer overflow in dump_data_section/print_string_section of readelf.c triggered by crafted z/x arguments to eu-readelf, allowing memory corruption.

Why it matters to the business

Systems relying on elfutils for ELF file inspection face risk of local crashes or code execution by users with shell access, potentially leading to privilege escalation or denial of service on developer and build environments.

How an attack unfolds

An attacker with local shell access supplies specially crafted arguments or input files to eu-readelf, triggering the overflow in the data/string section dumping logic to corrupt memory and achieve arbitrary code execution.

How to fix it

Apply the upstream patch identified as 73db9d2021cab9e23fd734b0a76a612d52a6f1db or upgrade elfutils to a release containing the fix; rebuild and redeploy any dependent packages.

How to confirm the fix worked

Confirm eu-readelf no longer crashes or exhibits memory corruption when tested with the originally disclosed triggering arguments; verify the patched commit is present in the source tree.

Typical attack path

1. Obtain local user access on a system with elfutils installed
2. Identify or craft an ELF input that triggers the vulnerable code path in eu-readelf
3. Invoke eu-readelf with manipulated z/x arguments to overflow the buffer
4. Leverage resulting memory corruption for code execution or crash

How to detect it

Review process execution logs and command history for invocations of eu-readelf with unusual arguments; look for segmentation faults or crashes in elfutils binaries in system logs.

What your security team should do

• Prioritize patching elfutils on all developer workstations, CI/CD runners, and build servers within the next sprint
• Scan package inventories for elfutils 0.192 and earlier and schedule upgrades
• Add eu-readelf to the list of tools monitored for local privilege-escalation attempts