CVE-2025-69647: GNU Binutils thru 2.45.1 readelf contains a denial-of-service vulnerability when processing a crafted binary with malformed DWARF loclists data. A logic flaw in the DWARF parsing code can cause readelf to repeatedly print the same table output without making forward progress, resulting in an unbounded output loop that never terminates unless externally interrupted. A local attacker can trigger this behavior by supplying a malicious input file, causing excessive CPU and I/O usage
CSIRTS triage
- What
- A logic flaw in DWARF loclists parsing causes readelf to enter an infinite loop, printing output repeatedly without progress.
- Who is affected
- Systems using readelf to process untrusted or malformed ELF binaries with DWARF debug data.
- Urgency
- Medium priority; attackers can cause denial of service via crafted binaries, though impact is local.
- Action
- Update GNU Binutils to a version that fixes the DWARF loclists parsing logic.
AI-assisted analysis generated from the source advisory — verify against the original.
⚡ Watch Binutils
Get an email when a new Binutils advisory drops — max one per day, one-click unsubscribe.
Details
Original advisory: https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2025-69647
Exploitation outlook
EPSS (FIRST.org) estimates each CVE’s probability of exploitation in the next 30 days — here is the CSIRTS.com read on those numbers.
- Low exploitation riskCVE-2025-696470.15% 30-day exploitation probability — currently an unlikely target, but scores change as exploit code circulates. Riskier than 5% of all EPSS-scored CVEs.
Referenced CVEs
| CVE | CSIRTS overview | External |
|---|---|---|
| CVE-2025-69647 | coverage & exploitation status | NVD · CVE.org |
Recent advisories for GNU Binutils thru
A cluster of recent advisories against the same product widens the attack surface — attackers routinely chain freshly published CVEs on one product, so review these together.
- highCVE-2025-69650: GNU Binutils thru 2.46 readelf contains a double free vulnerability when processing a crafted …msrc · 2026-08-06
- highCVE-2025-69648: GNU Binutils thru 2.45.1 readelf contains a denial-of-service vulnerability when processing a …msrc · 2026-08-06
- highCVE-2025-69651: GNU Binutils thru 2.46 readelf contains a vulnerability that leads to an invalid pointer free …msrc · 2026-08-06
- mediumCVE-2025-69649: GNU Binutils thru 2.46 readelf contains a null pointer dereference vulnerability when processi…msrc · 2026-08-06
More from Microsoft Security Response Center
- lowCVE-2026-14673: PostgreSQL amcheck does not clear untrusted search path2026-08-11
- criticalCVE-2026-69836: Microsoft Entra ID Remote Code Execution Vulnerability2026-08-11
- mediumCVE-2026-53792: rsync < 3.5.0 Out-of-Bounds Read via Zero-Length Checksum Block2026-08-11
- highCVE-2026-70347: Windows Installer Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability2026-08-11
- highCVE-2026-64909: Microsoft Office Remote Code Execution Vulnerability2026-08-11