# CVE-2018-18605: binutils: A heap-based buffer over-read issue was discovered in the function sec_merge_hash_lookup in merge.c in the Binary Fil...

CVE-2018-18605 is fixed in 41 products on 1 platform, first by binutils 2.30-21ubuntu1~18.04.3, released October 10, 2019. It is not reported as exploited. Patch Radar priority: Routine.

- Web page: https://patchblox.com/security/cve/CVE-2018-18605
- Priority: Routine
- CVSS: n/a (Low)
- EPSS: 0.0232
- CISA KEV: not listed
- Exploited (vendor report): no
- Publicly disclosed: no
- Published: Oct 23, 2018

## Description

A heap-based buffer over-read issue was discovered in the function sec_merge_hash_lookup in merge.c in the Binary File Descriptor (BFD) library (aka libbfd), as distributed in GNU Binutils 2.31, because _bfd_add_merge_section mishandles section merges when size is not a multiple of entsize. A specially crafted ELF allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service, as demonstrated by ld.

## Where it's fixed

| Platform | Product | Fixed in | Fix | Released |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Linux | binutils Ubuntu 18.04.6 LTS (bionic) | 2.30-21ubuntu1~18.04.3 | [binutils 2.30-21ubuntu1~18.04.3](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/ubuntu-bionic-binutils-2.30-21ubuntu1-18.04.3.md) | Oct 10, 2019 |
| Linux | binutils-aarch64-linux-gnu Ubuntu 18.04.6 LTS (bionic) | 2.30-21ubuntu1~18.04.3 | [binutils-aarch64-linux-gnu 2.30-21ubuntu1~18.04.3](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/ubuntu-bionic-binutils-aarch64-linux-gnu-2.30-21ubuntu1-18.04.3.md) | Oct 10, 2019 |
| Linux | binutils-alpha-linux-gnu Ubuntu 18.04.6 LTS (bionic) | 2.30-21ubuntu1~18.04.3 | [binutils-alpha-linux-gnu 2.30-21ubuntu1~18.04.3](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/ubuntu-bionic-binutils-alpha-linux-gnu-2.30-21ubuntu1-18.04.3.md) | Oct 10, 2019 |
| Linux | binutils-arm-linux-gnueabi Ubuntu 18.04.6 LTS (bionic) | 2.30-21ubuntu1~18.04.3 | [binutils-arm-linux-gnueabi 2.30-21ubuntu1~18.04.3](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/ubuntu-bionic-binutils-arm-linux-gnueabi-2.30-21ubuntu1-18.04.3.md) | Oct 10, 2019 |
| Linux | binutils-arm-linux-gnueabihf Ubuntu 18.04.6 LTS (bionic) | 2.30-21ubuntu1~18.04.3 | [binutils-arm-linux-gnueabihf 2.30-21ubuntu1~18.04.3](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/ubuntu-bionic-binutils-arm-linux-gnueabihf-2.30-21ubuntu1-18.04.3.md) | Oct 10, 2019 |
| Linux | binutils-common Ubuntu 18.04.6 LTS (bionic) | 2.30-21ubuntu1~18.04.3 | [binutils-common 2.30-21ubuntu1~18.04.3](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/ubuntu-bionic-binutils-common-2.30-21ubuntu1-18.04.3.md) | Oct 10, 2019 |
| Linux | binutils-for-build Ubuntu 18.04.6 LTS (bionic) | 2.30-21ubuntu1~18.04.3 | [binutils-for-build 2.30-21ubuntu1~18.04.3](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/ubuntu-bionic-binutils-for-build-2.30-21ubuntu1-18.04.3.md) | Oct 10, 2019 |
| Linux | binutils-for-host Ubuntu 18.04.6 LTS (bionic) | 2.30-21ubuntu1~18.04.3 | [binutils-for-host 2.30-21ubuntu1~18.04.3](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/ubuntu-bionic-binutils-for-host-2.30-21ubuntu1-18.04.3.md) | Oct 10, 2019 |
| Linux | binutils-hppa-linux-gnu Ubuntu 18.04.6 LTS (bionic) | 2.30-21ubuntu1~18.04.3 | [binutils-hppa-linux-gnu 2.30-21ubuntu1~18.04.3](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/ubuntu-bionic-binutils-hppa-linux-gnu-2.30-21ubuntu1-18.04.3.md) | Oct 10, 2019 |
| Linux | binutils-hppa64-linux-gnu Ubuntu 18.04.6 LTS (bionic) | 2.30-21ubuntu1~18.04.3 | [binutils-hppa64-linux-gnu 2.30-21ubuntu1~18.04.3](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/ubuntu-bionic-binutils-hppa64-linux-gnu-2.30-21ubuntu1-18.04.3.md) | Oct 10, 2019 |
| Linux | binutils-i686-gnu Ubuntu 18.04.6 LTS (bionic) | 2.30-21ubuntu1~18.04.3 | [binutils-i686-gnu 2.30-21ubuntu1~18.04.3](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/ubuntu-bionic-binutils-i686-gnu-2.30-21ubuntu1-18.04.3.md) | Oct 10, 2019 |
| Linux | binutils-i686-kfreebsd-gnu Ubuntu 18.04.6 LTS (bionic) | 2.30-21ubuntu1~18.04.3 | [binutils-i686-kfreebsd-gnu 2.30-21ubuntu1~18.04.3](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/ubuntu-bionic-binutils-i686-kfreebsd-gnu-2.30-21ubuntu1-18.04.3.md) | Oct 10, 2019 |
| Linux | binutils-i686-linux-gnu Ubuntu 18.04.6 LTS (bionic) | 2.30-21ubuntu1~18.04.3 | [binutils-i686-linux-gnu 2.30-21ubuntu1~18.04.3](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/ubuntu-bionic-binutils-i686-linux-gnu-2.30-21ubuntu1-18.04.3.md) | Oct 10, 2019 |
| Linux | binutils-ia64-linux-gnu Ubuntu 18.04.6 LTS (bionic) | 2.30-21ubuntu1~18.04.3 | [binutils-ia64-linux-gnu 2.30-21ubuntu1~18.04.3](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/ubuntu-bionic-binutils-ia64-linux-gnu-2.30-21ubuntu1-18.04.3.md) | Oct 10, 2019 |
| Linux | binutils-m68k-linux-gnu Ubuntu 18.04.6 LTS (bionic) | 2.30-21ubuntu1~18.04.3 | [binutils-m68k-linux-gnu 2.30-21ubuntu1~18.04.3](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/ubuntu-bionic-binutils-m68k-linux-gnu-2.30-21ubuntu1-18.04.3.md) | Oct 10, 2019 |
| Linux | binutils-mips-linux-gnu Ubuntu 18.04.6 LTS (bionic) | 2.30-21ubuntu1~18.04.3 | [binutils-mips-linux-gnu 2.30-21ubuntu1~18.04.3](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/ubuntu-bionic-binutils-mips-linux-gnu-2.30-21ubuntu1-18.04.3.md) | Oct 10, 2019 |
| Linux | binutils-mips64-linux-gnuabi64 Ubuntu 18.04.6 LTS (bionic) | 2.30-21ubuntu1~18.04.3 | [binutils-mips64-linux-gnuabi64 2.30-21ubuntu1~18.04.3](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/ubuntu-bionic-binutils-mips64-linux-gnuabi64-2.30-21ubuntu1-18.04.3.md) | Oct 10, 2019 |
| Linux | binutils-mips64-linux-gnuabin32 Ubuntu 18.04.6 LTS (bionic) | 2.30-21ubuntu1~18.04.3 | [binutils-mips64-linux-gnuabin32 2.30-21ubuntu1~18.04.3](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/ubuntu-bionic-binutils-mips64-linux-gnuabin32-2.30-21ubuntu1-18.04.3.md) | Oct 10, 2019 |
| Linux | binutils-mips64el-linux-gnuabi64 Ubuntu 18.04.6 LTS (bionic) | 2.30-21ubuntu1~18.04.3 | [binutils-mips64el-linux-gnuabi64 2.30-21ubuntu1~18.04.3](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/ubuntu-bionic-binutils-mips64el-linux-gnuabi64-2.30-21ubuntu1-18.04.3.md) | Oct 10, 2019 |
| Linux | binutils-mips64el-linux-gnuabin32 Ubuntu 18.04.6 LTS (bionic) | 2.30-21ubuntu1~18.04.3 | [binutils-mips64el-linux-gnuabin32 2.30-21ubuntu1~18.04.3](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/ubuntu-bionic-binutils-mips64el-linux-gnuabin32-2.30-21ubuntu1-18.04.3.md) | Oct 10, 2019 |
| Linux | binutils-mipsel-linux-gnu Ubuntu 18.04.6 LTS (bionic) | 2.30-21ubuntu1~18.04.3 | [binutils-mipsel-linux-gnu 2.30-21ubuntu1~18.04.3](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/ubuntu-bionic-binutils-mipsel-linux-gnu-2.30-21ubuntu1-18.04.3.md) | Oct 10, 2019 |
| Linux | binutils-mipsisa32r6-linux-gnu Ubuntu 18.04.6 LTS (bionic) | 2.30-21ubuntu1~18.04.3 | [binutils-mipsisa32r6-linux-gnu 2.30-21ubuntu1~18.04.3](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/ubuntu-bionic-binutils-mipsisa32r6-linux-gnu-2.30-21ubuntu1-18.04.3.md) | Oct 10, 2019 |
| Linux | binutils-mipsisa32r6el-linux-gnu Ubuntu 18.04.6 LTS (bionic) | 2.30-21ubuntu1~18.04.3 | [binutils-mipsisa32r6el-linux-gnu 2.30-21ubuntu1~18.04.3](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/ubuntu-bionic-binutils-mipsisa32r6el-linux-gnu-2.30-21ubuntu1-18.04.3.md) | Oct 10, 2019 |
| Linux | binutils-mipsisa64r6-linux-gnuabi64 Ubuntu 18.04.6 LTS (bionic) | 2.30-21ubuntu1~18.04.3 | [binutils-mipsisa64r6-linux-gnuabi64 2.30-21ubuntu1~18.04.3](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/ubuntu-bionic-binutils-mipsisa64r6-linux-gnuabi64-2.30-21ubuntu1-18.04.3.md) | Oct 10, 2019 |
| Linux | binutils-mipsisa64r6-linux-gnuabin32 Ubuntu 18.04.6 LTS (bionic) | 2.30-21ubuntu1~18.04.3 | [binutils-mipsisa64r6-linux-gnuabin32 2.30-21ubuntu1~18.04.3](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/ubuntu-bionic-binutils-mipsisa64r6-linux-gnuabin32-2.30-21ubuntu1-18.04.3.md) | Oct 10, 2019 |
| Linux | binutils-mipsisa64r6el-linux-gnuabi64 Ubuntu 18.04.6 LTS (bionic) | 2.30-21ubuntu1~18.04.3 | [binutils-mipsisa64r6el-linux-gnuabi64 2.30-21ubuntu1~18.04.3](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/ubuntu-bionic-binutils-mipsisa64r6el-linux-gnuabi64-2.30-21ubuntu1-18.04.3.md) | Oct 10, 2019 |
| Linux | binutils-mipsisa64r6el-linux-gnuabin32 Ubuntu 18.04.6 LTS (bionic) | 2.30-21ubuntu1~18.04.3 | [binutils-mipsisa64r6el-linux-gnuabin32 2.30-21ubuntu1~18.04.3](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/ubuntu-bionic-binutils-mipsisa64r6el-linux-gnuabin32-2.30-21ubuntu1-18.04.3.md) | Oct 10, 2019 |
| Linux | binutils-multiarch Ubuntu 18.04.6 LTS (bionic) | 2.30-21ubuntu1~18.04.3 | [binutils-multiarch 2.30-21ubuntu1~18.04.3](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/ubuntu-bionic-binutils-multiarch-2.30-21ubuntu1-18.04.3.md) | Oct 10, 2019 |
| Linux | binutils-powerpc-linux-gnu Ubuntu 18.04.6 LTS (bionic) | 2.30-21ubuntu1~18.04.3 | [binutils-powerpc-linux-gnu 2.30-21ubuntu1~18.04.3](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/ubuntu-bionic-binutils-powerpc-linux-gnu-2.30-21ubuntu1-18.04.3.md) | Oct 10, 2019 |
| Linux | binutils-powerpc-linux-gnuspe Ubuntu 18.04.6 LTS (bionic) | 2.30-21ubuntu1~18.04.3 | [binutils-powerpc-linux-gnuspe 2.30-21ubuntu1~18.04.3](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/ubuntu-bionic-binutils-powerpc-linux-gnuspe-2.30-21ubuntu1-18.04.3.md) | Oct 10, 2019 |
| Linux | binutils-powerpc64-linux-gnu Ubuntu 18.04.6 LTS (bionic) | 2.30-21ubuntu1~18.04.3 | [binutils-powerpc64-linux-gnu 2.30-21ubuntu1~18.04.3](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/ubuntu-bionic-binutils-powerpc64-linux-gnu-2.30-21ubuntu1-18.04.3.md) | Oct 10, 2019 |
| Linux | binutils-powerpc64le-linux-gnu Ubuntu 18.04.6 LTS (bionic) | 2.30-21ubuntu1~18.04.3 | [binutils-powerpc64le-linux-gnu 2.30-21ubuntu1~18.04.3](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/ubuntu-bionic-binutils-powerpc64le-linux-gnu-2.30-21ubuntu1-18.04.3.md) | Oct 10, 2019 |
| Linux | binutils-riscv64-linux-gnu Ubuntu 18.04.6 LTS (bionic) | 2.30-21ubuntu1~18.04.3 | [binutils-riscv64-linux-gnu 2.30-21ubuntu1~18.04.3](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/ubuntu-bionic-binutils-riscv64-linux-gnu-2.30-21ubuntu1-18.04.3.md) | Oct 10, 2019 |
| Linux | binutils-s390x-linux-gnu Ubuntu 18.04.6 LTS (bionic) | 2.30-21ubuntu1~18.04.3 | [binutils-s390x-linux-gnu 2.30-21ubuntu1~18.04.3](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/ubuntu-bionic-binutils-s390x-linux-gnu-2.30-21ubuntu1-18.04.3.md) | Oct 10, 2019 |
| Linux | binutils-sh4-linux-gnu Ubuntu 18.04.6 LTS (bionic) | 2.30-21ubuntu1~18.04.3 | [binutils-sh4-linux-gnu 2.30-21ubuntu1~18.04.3](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/ubuntu-bionic-binutils-sh4-linux-gnu-2.30-21ubuntu1-18.04.3.md) | Oct 10, 2019 |
| Linux | binutils-source Ubuntu 18.04.6 LTS (bionic) | 2.30-21ubuntu1~18.04.3 | [binutils-source 2.30-21ubuntu1~18.04.3](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/ubuntu-bionic-binutils-source-2.30-21ubuntu1-18.04.3.md) | Oct 10, 2019 |
| Linux | binutils-sparc64-linux-gnu Ubuntu 18.04.6 LTS (bionic) | 2.30-21ubuntu1~18.04.3 | [binutils-sparc64-linux-gnu 2.30-21ubuntu1~18.04.3](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/ubuntu-bionic-binutils-sparc64-linux-gnu-2.30-21ubuntu1-18.04.3.md) | Oct 10, 2019 |
| Linux | binutils-x86-64-kfreebsd-gnu Ubuntu 18.04.6 LTS (bionic) | 2.30-21ubuntu1~18.04.3 | [binutils-x86-64-kfreebsd-gnu 2.30-21ubuntu1~18.04.3](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/ubuntu-bionic-binutils-x86-64-kfreebsd-gnu-2.30-21ubuntu1-18.04.3.md) | Oct 10, 2019 |
| Linux | binutils-x86-64-linux-gnu Ubuntu 18.04.6 LTS (bionic) | 2.30-21ubuntu1~18.04.3 | [binutils-x86-64-linux-gnu 2.30-21ubuntu1~18.04.3](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/ubuntu-bionic-binutils-x86-64-linux-gnu-2.30-21ubuntu1-18.04.3.md) | Oct 10, 2019 |
| Linux | binutils-x86-64-linux-gnux32 Ubuntu 18.04.6 LTS (bionic) | 2.30-21ubuntu1~18.04.3 | [binutils-x86-64-linux-gnux32 2.30-21ubuntu1~18.04.3](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/ubuntu-bionic-binutils-x86-64-linux-gnux32-2.30-21ubuntu1-18.04.3.md) | Oct 10, 2019 |
| Linux | libbinutils Ubuntu 18.04.6 LTS (bionic) | 2.30-21ubuntu1~18.04.3 | [libbinutils 2.30-21ubuntu1~18.04.3](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/ubuntu-bionic-libbinutils-2.30-21ubuntu1-18.04.3.md) | Oct 10, 2019 |

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