CVE-2025-1365: 
Linux Debian vulnerability analysis and mitigation

A critical vulnerability was discovered in GNU elfutils version 0.192, identified as CVE-2025-1365. The vulnerability affects the process_symtab function in the readelf.c file of the eu-readelf component. This buffer overflow vulnerability was discovered on February 16, 2025, and requires local access to exploit (NVD, VulDB).

The vulnerability occurs when using the -D and -a options with a specially crafted input file in eu-readelf. The issue stems from the direct use of string data from symstrdata->dbuf without proper validation when the -D/--dynamic option is used, potentially leading to reading unallocated memory past the end of the symstr data. The vulnerability has been assigned CVSS v3.1 Base Score of 5.3 (MEDIUM) and CVSS v4.0 Score of 4.8 (MEDIUM) (Bugzilla, VulDB).

The buffer overflow vulnerability can lead to a crash in the eu-readelf tool and potentially affect the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the system. However, the impact is limited as the tool is typically run in short-lived, local, interactive, development contexts rather than remotely in production environments (Bugzilla).

A patch has been released with the identifier 5e5c0394d82c53e97750fe7b18023e6f84157b81. The fix involves implementing proper string validation by turning the elfstrptr validatestr function into a generic lib/system.h helper function. It is recommended to apply this patch to address the vulnerability (Bugzilla).

The GNU Project maintainers have noted that this issue is not considered a security vulnerability according to their security policy, as elfutils tools are typically run in short-lived, local, interactive, development contexts. They have requested that future security vulnerability reports be submitted through their official security contacts rather than through non-affiliated CNAs (Bugzilla).