CVE-2020-16591

5.5 MEDIUM 0.9% exploit odds Fix listed

What it is

A Denial of Service vulnerability exists in the Binary File Descriptor (BFD) in GNU Binutils 2.35 due to an invalid read in process_symbol_table, as demonstrated in readeif.

At a glance

Exploitability: Can be exploited locally on the machine without logging in, but needs a user to act. High risk of service disruption.
Exploit odds: 0.9% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days (EPSS).
Fix: A patch, advisory or fixed version is referenced. Upgrade or apply it.

Timeline

2020-12-09 21:15 UTC PublishedDisclosed publicly on CVE.org and NVD
2026-06-17 02:58 UTC Last updatedMost recent change to the record

Why it ranks here

Exploited in the wild: no, CISA does not list it.
Exploit odds: 0.9% in the next 30 days (EPSS).
Severity: 5.5 MEDIUM (CVSS).
Fix: a patch or advisory is linked.

Details

Published: 2020-12-09 21:15 UTC
Last modified: 2026-06-17 02:58 UTC
Exploit probability: 0.9% · EPSS, next 30 days
Weakness: CWE-125 · Out-of-bounds read
Record status: Modified

Affected

Gnu Binutils 2.35
Netapp Ontap Select Deploy Administration Utility

Attack profile CVSS 3.1 · 5.5

Attack vector: Local
Complexity: Low
Privileges needed: None
User interaction: Required
Scope: Unchanged
Confidentiality: None
Integrity: None
Availability: High

Raw vector

CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

Is it in your code?

Hand this to your coding agent. It searches your project for the affected products and checks versions. Nothing leaves your machine.

Read https://cve-list.com/agent/cve/CVE-2020-16591.md and follow it. Check whether this project is affected by CVE-2020-16591. Read only. Don't change anything and don't upload my code. Tell me yes, no or not sure, with the file as proof.

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Fix and advisories

References

NVD record · CVE.org record