CVE-2021-33294 - Vulnerability Details - OpenCVE

In elfutils 0.183, an infinite loop was found in the function handle_symtab in readelf.c .Which allows attackers to cause a denial of service (infinite loop) via crafted file.

No CVSS v4.0

Attack Vector Local

Attack Complexity Low

Privileges Required None

Scope Unchanged

Confidentiality Impact None

Integrity Impact None

Availability Impact High

User Interaction Required

No CVSS v3.0

No CVSS v2

This CVE is not in the KEV list.

Exploitation poc

Automatable no

Technical Impact partial

Vendors	Products
Elfutils Project	Elfutils

Configuration 1 [-]

cpe:2.3:a:elfutils_project:elfutils:0.183:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

No data.

References

Link	Providers
https://cert-portal.siemens.com/productcert/html/ssa-398330.html
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-33294
https://sourceware.org/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=27501
https://sourceware.org/pipermail/elfutils-devel/2021q1/003607.html
https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2021-33294

History

Wed, 14 Oct 2026 12:30:00 +0000

Type	Values Removed	Values Added
References		https://cert-portal.siemens.com/productcert/html/ssa-398330.html

Fri, 14 Feb 2025 02:30:00 +0000

Type	Values Removed	Values Added
Metrics	threat_severity `Low`	threat_severity `Moderate`

Mon, 28 Oct 2024 17:15:00 +0000

Type	Values Removed	Values Added
Metrics		ssvc `{'options': {'Automatable': 'no', 'Exploitation': 'poc', 'Technical Impact': 'partial'}, 'version': '2.0.3'}`

MITRE

Status: PUBLISHED

Assigner: mitre

Published: 2023-07-18T00:00:00.000Z

Updated: 2026-10-14T11:39:38.003Z

Reserved: 2021-05-20T00:00:00.000Z

Link: CVE-2021-33294

Vulnrichment

Updated: 2024-08-03T23:42:20.323Z

NVD

Status : Modified

Published: 2023-07-18T14:15:11.673

Modified: 2026-10-14T12:17:12.097

Link: CVE-2021-33294

Redhat

Severity : Moderate

Publid Date: 2023-07-18T00:00:00Z

Links: CVE-2021-33294 - Bugzilla

{"dataType": "CVE_RECORD", "dataVersion": "5.2", "cveMetadata": {"state": "PUBLISHED", "cveId": "CVE-2021-33294", "assignerOrgId": "8254265b-2729-46b6-b9e3-3dfca2d5bfca", "assignerShortName": "mitre", "dateUpdated": "2026-10-14T11:39:38.003Z", "dateReserved": "2021-05-20T00:00:00.000Z", "datePublished": "2023-07-18T00:00:00.000Z"}, "containers": {"cna": {"providerMetadata": {"orgId": "8254265b-2729-46b6-b9e3-3dfca2d5bfca", "shortName": "mitre", "dateUpdated": "2023-07-18T00:00:00.000Z"}, "descriptions": [{"lang": "en", "value": "In elfutils 0.183, an infinite loop was found in the function handle_symtab in readelf.c .Which allows attackers to cause a denial of service (infinite loop) via crafted file."}], "affected": [{"vendor": "n/a", "product": "n/a", "versions": [{"version": "n/a", "status": "affected"}]}], "references": [{"url": "https://sourceware.org/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=27501"}, {"url": "https://sourceware.org/pipermail/elfutils-devel/2021q1/003607.html"}], "problemTypes": [{"descriptions": [{"type": "text", "lang": "en", "description": "n/a"}]}]}, "adp": [{"providerMetadata": {"orgId": "af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108", "shortName": "CVE", "dateUpdated": "2024-08-03T23:42:20.323Z"}, "title": "CVE Program Container", "references": [{"url": "https://sourceware.org/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=27501", "tags": ["x_transferred"]}, {"url": "https://sourceware.org/pipermail/elfutils-devel/2021q1/003607.html", "tags": ["x_transferred"]}]}, {"metrics": [{"other": {"type": "ssvc", "content": {"timestamp": "2024-10-28T17:05:21.199995Z", "id": "CVE-2021-33294", "options": [{"Exploitation": "poc"}, {"Automatable": "no"}, {"Technical Impact": "partial"}], "role": "CISA Coordinator", "version": "2.0.3"}}}], "title": "CISA ADP Vulnrichment", "providerMetadata": {"orgId": "134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0", "shortName": "CISA-ADP", "dateUpdated": "2024-10-28T17:05:29.444Z"}}, {"x_adpType": "supplier", "providerMetadata": {"orgId": "0b142b55-0307-4c5a-b3c9-f314f3fb7c5e", "shortName": "siemens-SADP", "dateUpdated": "2026-10-14T11:39:38.003Z"}, "affected": [{"vendor": "Siemens", "product": "SIMATIC S7-1500 CPU 1518-4 PN/DP MFP", "versions": [{"status": "affected", "version": "V3.1.0", "lessThan": "V3.1.5", "versionType": "custom"}], "defaultStatus": "unknown"}, {"vendor": "Siemens", "product": "SIMATIC S7-1500 CPU 1518-4 PN/DP MFP", "versions": [{"status": "affected", "version": "V3.1.0", "lessThan": "V3.1.5", "versionType": "custom"}], "defaultStatus": "unknown"}, {"vendor": "Siemens", "product": "SIMATIC S7-1500 CPU 1518F-4 PN/DP MFP", "versions": [{"status": "affected", "version": "V3.1.0", "lessThan": "V3.1.5", "versionType": "custom"}], "defaultStatus": "unknown"}, {"vendor": "Siemens", "product": "SIMATIC S7-1500 CPU 1518F-4 PN/DP MFP", "versions": [{"status": "affected", "version": "V3.1.0", "lessThan": "V3.1.5", "versionType": "custom"}], "defaultStatus": "unknown"}, {"vendor": "Siemens", "product": "SIPLUS S7-1500 CPU 1518-4 PN/DP MFP", "versions": [{"status": "affected", "version": "V3.1.0", "lessThan": "V3.1.5", "versionType": "custom"}], "defaultStatus": "unknown"}], "references": [{"url": "https://cert-portal.siemens.com/productcert/html/ssa-398330.html"}]}]}}

{"dataType": "CVE_RECORD", "containers": {"adp": [{"title": "CVE Program Container", "references": [{"url": "https://sourceware.org/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=27501", "tags": ["x_transferred"]}, {"url": "https://sourceware.org/pipermail/elfutils-devel/2021q1/003607.html", "tags": ["x_transferred"]}], "providerMetadata": {"orgId": "af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108", "shortName": "CVE", "dateUpdated": "2024-08-03T23:42:20.323Z"}}, {"affected": [{"vendor": "Siemens", "product": "SIMATIC S7-1500 CPU 1518-4 PN/DP MFP", "versions": [{"status": "affected", "version": "V3.1.0", "lessThan": "V3.1.5", "versionType": "custom"}], "defaultStatus": "unknown"}, {"vendor": "Siemens", "product": "SIMATIC S7-1500 CPU 1518-4 PN/DP MFP", "versions": [{"status": "affected", "version": "V3.1.0", "lessThan": "V3.1.5", "versionType": "custom"}], "defaultStatus": "unknown"}, {"vendor": "Siemens", "product": "SIMATIC S7-1500 CPU 1518F-4 PN/DP MFP", "versions": [{"status": "affected", "version": "V3.1.0", "lessThan": "V3.1.5", "versionType": "custom"}], "defaultStatus": "unknown"}, {"vendor": "Siemens", "product": "SIMATIC S7-1500 CPU 1518F-4 PN/DP MFP", "versions": [{"status": "affected", "version": "V3.1.0", "lessThan": "V3.1.5", "versionType": "custom"}], "defaultStatus": "unknown"}, {"vendor": "Siemens", "product": "SIPLUS S7-1500 CPU 1518-4 PN/DP MFP", "versions": [{"status": "affected", "version": "V3.1.0", "lessThan": "V3.1.5", "versionType": "custom"}], "defaultStatus": "unknown"}], "x_adpType": "supplier", "references": [{"url": "https://cert-portal.siemens.com/productcert/html/ssa-398330.html"}], "providerMetadata": {"orgId": "0b142b55-0307-4c5a-b3c9-f314f3fb7c5e", "shortName": "siemens-SADP", "dateUpdated": "2026-10-14T11:39:38.003Z"}}, {"title": "CISA ADP Vulnrichment", "metrics": [{"other": {"type": "ssvc", "content": {"id": "CVE-2021-33294", "role": "CISA Coordinator", "options": [{"Exploitation": "poc"}, {"Automatable": "no"}, {"Technical Impact": "partial"}], "version": "2.0.3", "timestamp": "2024-10-28T17:05:21.199995Z"}}}], "providerMetadata": {"orgId": "134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0", "shortName": "CISA-ADP", "dateUpdated": "2024-10-28T17:05:25.474Z"}}], "cna": {"affected": [{"vendor": "n/a", "product": "n/a", "versions": [{"status": "affected", "version": "n/a"}]}], "references": [{"url": "https://sourceware.org/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=27501"}, {"url": "https://sourceware.org/pipermail/elfutils-devel/2021q1/003607.html"}], "descriptions": [{"lang": "en", "value": "In elfutils 0.183, an infinite loop was found in the function handle_symtab in readelf.c .Which allows attackers to cause a denial of service (infinite loop) via crafted file."}], "problemTypes": [{"descriptions": [{"lang": "en", "type": "text", "description": "n/a"}]}], "providerMetadata": {"orgId": "8254265b-2729-46b6-b9e3-3dfca2d5bfca", "shortName": "mitre", "dateUpdated": "2023-07-18T00:00:00.000Z"}}}, "cveMetadata": {"cveId": "CVE-2021-33294", "state": "PUBLISHED", "dateUpdated": "2026-10-14T11:39:38.003Z", "dateReserved": "2021-05-20T00:00:00.000Z", "assignerOrgId": "8254265b-2729-46b6-b9e3-3dfca2d5bfca", "datePublished": "2023-07-18T00:00:00.000Z", "assignerShortName": "mitre"}, "dataVersion": "5.2"}

{"affected": [{"affectedData": [{"product": "n/a", "vendor": "n/a", "versions": [{"status": "affected", "version": "n/a"}]}], "source": "cve@mitre.org"}, {"affectedData": [{"defaultStatus": "unknown", "product": "SIMATIC S7-1500 CPU 1518-4 PN/DP MFP", "vendor": "Siemens", "versions": [{"lessThan": "V3.1.5", "status": "affected", "version": "V3.1.0", "versionType": "custom"}]}, {"defaultStatus": "unknown", "product": "SIMATIC S7-1500 CPU 1518-4 PN/DP MFP", "vendor": "Siemens", "versions": [{"lessThan": "V3.1.5", "status": "affected", "version": "V3.1.0", "versionType": "custom"}]}, {"defaultStatus": "unknown", "product": "SIMATIC S7-1500 CPU 1518F-4 PN/DP MFP", "vendor": "Siemens", "versions": [{"lessThan": "V3.1.5", "status": "affected", "version": "V3.1.0", "versionType": "custom"}]}, {"defaultStatus": "unknown", "product": "SIMATIC S7-1500 CPU 1518F-4 PN/DP MFP", "vendor": "Siemens", "versions": [{"lessThan": "V3.1.5", "status": "affected", "version": "V3.1.0", "versionType": "custom"}]}, {"defaultStatus": "unknown", "product": "SIPLUS S7-1500 CPU 1518-4 PN/DP MFP", "vendor": "Siemens", "versions": [{"lessThan": "V3.1.5", "status": "affected", "version": "V3.1.0", "versionType": "custom"}]}], "source": "0b142b55-0307-4c5a-b3c9-f314f3fb7c5e"}], "configurations": [{"nodes": [{"cpeMatch": [{"criteria": "cpe:2.3:a:elfutils_project:elfutils:0.183:*:*:*:*:*:*:*", "matchCriteriaId": "6C0F8466-BE5B-45B1-A099-2B1E940E5A8E", "vulnerable": true}], "negate": false, "operator": "OR"}]}], "cveTags": [], "descriptions": [{"lang": "en", "value": "In elfutils 0.183, an infinite loop was found in the function handle_symtab in readelf.c .Which allows attackers to cause a denial of service (infinite loop) via crafted file."}], "id": "CVE-2021-33294", "lastModified": "2026-10-14T12:17:12.097", "metrics": {"cvssMetricV31": [{"cvssData": {"attackComplexity": "LOW", "attackVector": "LOCAL", "availabilityImpact": "HIGH", "baseScore": 5.5, "baseSeverity": "MEDIUM", "confidentialityImpact": "NONE", "integrityImpact": "NONE", "privilegesRequired": "NONE", "scope": "UNCHANGED", "userInteraction": "REQUIRED", "vectorString": "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H", "version": "3.1"}, "exploitabilityScore": 1.8, "impactScore": 3.6, "source": "nvd@nist.gov", "type": "Primary"}], "ssvcV203": [{"source": "134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0", "ssvcData": {"id": "CVE-2021-33294", "options": [{"exploitation": "poc"}, {"automatable": "no"}, {"technicalImpact": "partial"}], "role": "CISA Coordinator", "timestamp": "2024-10-28T17:05:21.199995Z", "version": "2.0.3"}}]}, "published": "2023-07-18T14:15:11.673", "references": [{"source": "cve@mitre.org", "tags": ["Exploit", "Issue Tracking"], "url": "https://sourceware.org/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=27501"}, {"source": "cve@mitre.org", "tags": ["Mailing List", "Patch"], "url": "https://sourceware.org/pipermail/elfutils-devel/2021q1/003607.html"}, {"source": "af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108", "tags": ["Exploit", "Issue Tracking"], "url": "https://sourceware.org/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=27501"}, {"source": "af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108", "tags": ["Mailing List", "Patch"], "url": "https://sourceware.org/pipermail/elfutils-devel/2021q1/003607.html"}, {"source": "0b142b55-0307-4c5a-b3c9-f314f3fb7c5e", "url": "https://cert-portal.siemens.com/productcert/html/ssa-398330.html"}], "sourceIdentifier": "cve@mitre.org", "vulnStatus": "Modified", "weaknesses": [{"description": [{"lang": "en", "value": "CWE-835"}], "source": "nvd@nist.gov", "type": "Primary"}]}

{"bugzilla": {"description": "elfutils: an infinite loop was found in the function handle_symtab in readelf.c which causes denial of service", "id": "2223918", "url": "https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2223918"}, "csaw": false, "cvss3": {"cvss3_base_score": "6.2", "cvss3_scoring_vector": "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H", "status": "draft"}, "cwe": "CWE-400", "details": ["In elfutils 0.183, an infinite loop was found in the function handle_symtab in readelf.c .Which allows attackers to cause a denial of service (infinite loop) via crafted file.", "A flaw was found in the elfutils tools package. An infinite loop is possible in the handle_symtab function in readelf.c, which may lead to a denial of service.\nA vulnerability was found in Elfutils, where an infinite loop in the handle_symtab function within readelf.c can lead to a denial of service, causing the application to become unresponsive and consume excessive system resources indefinitely."], "name": "CVE-2021-33294", "package_state": [{"cpe": "cpe:/o:redhat:enterprise_linux:6", "fix_state": "Out of support scope", "package_name": "elfutils", "product_name": "Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6"}, {"cpe": "cpe:/o:redhat:enterprise_linux:7", "fix_state": "Out of support scope", "package_name": "elfutils", "product_name": "Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7"}, {"cpe": "cpe:/o:redhat:enterprise_linux:8", "fix_state": "Will not fix", "package_name": "elfutils", "product_name": "Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8"}, {"cpe": "cpe:/o:redhat:enterprise_linux:8", "fix_state": "Not affected", "package_name": "gcc-toolset-11-elfutils", "product_name": "Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8"}, {"cpe": "cpe:/o:redhat:enterprise_linux:9", "fix_state": "Not affected", "package_name": "elfutils", "product_name": "Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9"}, {"cpe": "cpe:/o:redhat:rhev_hypervisor:4", "fix_state": "Not affected", "package_name": "elfutils", "product_name": "Red Hat Virtualization 4"}], "public_date": "2023-07-18T00:00:00Z", "references": ["https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2021-33294\nhttps://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-33294\nhttps://sourceware.org/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=27501"], "statement": "This vulnerability is rated as moderate because an infinite loop in Elfutils' handle_symtab function within readelf.c could lead to a denial of service, it does not lead to code execution but it can cause prolonged application unresponsiveness, impacting availability.", "threat_severity": "Moderate"}