CVE-2016-10255: The __libelf_set_rawdata_wrlock function in elf_getdata.c in elfutils before 0.168 allows remote attackers...

Security readout for executives and security teams

CVE-2016-10255 is a denial-of-service issue in elfutils before 0.168. If a vulnerable system or service processes a malicious ELF file, the parser can crash. Business impact is mainly interruption of services that inspect, build, debug, or analyze binaries, not confirmed data theft or code execution. Exposure is most likely where elfutils or libelf processes untrusted ELF files, including binary analysis, build, packaging, debugging, or automated scanning workflows. Systems not accepting or processing attacker-supplied ELF files have lower practical exposure. Treat this as a targeted availability risk. Patch normal server and build environments, and prioritize any externally reachable workflow that processes binaries. Escalation is lower than code-execution vulnerabilities because sources only support crash-based denial of service. Mitigation focus: Upgrade elfutils to 0.168 or a vendor-fixed package.; Review Ubuntu, Gentoo, Red Hat, or distribution guidance for backported fixes.; Restrict automated processing of untrusted ELF files until patched..

Prepared

Jun 13, 2026, 05:45 UTC (UTC+00:00)

Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.