CVE-2025-69651: GNU Binutils thru 2.46 readelf contains a vulnerability that leads to an invalid pointer free when processing a crafted ELF binary with malformed relocation or symbol data. If dump_relocations returns early due to parsing errors, the internal all_relocations array may remain partially uninitialized. Later, process_got_section_contents() may attempt to free an invalid r_symbol pointer, triggering memory corruption checks in glibc and causing the program to terminate with SIGABRT.

CSIRTS triage

What: The readelf utility contains an invalid pointer free vulnerability when processing crafted ELF binaries with malformed relocation or symbol data.
Who is affected: Systems using readelf versions through 2.46 to parse untrusted or malicious ELF files.
Urgency: High severity (CVSS 7.1); invalid pointer free can lead to code execution or crash.
Action: Upgrade GNU Binutils to a version after 2.46 with the fix applied.

AI-assisted analysis generated from the source advisory — verify against the original.

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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-2025-696510.24% 30-day exploitation probability — currently an unlikely target, but scores change as exploit code circulates. Riskier than 15% of all EPSS-scored CVEs.

CVE	CSIRTS overview	External
CVE-2025-69651	coverage & exploitation status	NVD · CVE.org