CVE-2026-13732 Gdb: gdb: out-of-bounds write in stabs parser read_member_functions() via crafted elf

Description

A flaw was found in GDB's STABS debug format parser. The read_member_functions() function in gdb/stabsread.c contains a linked list removal bug in the code that separates destructor and non-destructor member functions of C++ classes. The bug causes the destructor entries to remain in the main function list while the list length counter is decremented, resulting in an out-of-bounds write when the function list is copied to its final allocated array. An attacker can craft an ELF binary with malicious .stab and .stabstr sections that triggers this out-of-bounds write when a user opens the file in GDB and performs any symbol-inspection operation such as setting a breakpoint. The inferior process does not need to be executed. Under controlled conditions, this was demonstrated to achieve execution of arbitrary commands within the GDB process.

Exploitable with local access to the machine, without an account and if a user takes an action; an attacker can seriously compromise confidentiality, integrity or availability.

Attack vector

Local

Attack complexity

High

Privileges required

None

Interaction

Required

Scope

Unchanged

Confidentiality

High

Integrity

High

Availability

High

Affected products and versions