---
id: CVE-2021-33294
title: >-
  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.
summary: >-
  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.
severity: medium
cvss: 5.5
cvssVector: 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H'
cwe:
  - CWE-835
vendor: elfutils_project
product: elfutils
affected:
  - elfutils = 0.183
published: '2023-07-18'
updated: '2026-10-14'
sourceUpdated: '2026-10-14T12:17:12.097'
source: NVD
sourceUrl: 'https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-33294'
references:
  - url: 'https://sourceware.org/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=27501'
    label: cve@mitre.org
  - url: 'https://sourceware.org/pipermail/elfutils-devel/2021q1/003607.html'
    label: cve@mitre.org
  - url: 'https://sourceware.org/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=27501'
    label: af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108
  - url: 'https://sourceware.org/pipermail/elfutils-devel/2021q1/003607.html'
    label: af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108
  - url: 'https://cert-portal.siemens.com/productcert/html/ssa-398330.html'
    label: 0b142b55-0307-4c5a-b3c9-f314f3fb7c5e
tags:
  - nvd
  - cve.org
  - exploit-available
epss: 0.00334
epssPercentile: 0.25144
ingestedAt: '2026-10-14T12:29:10.830Z'
exploitAvailable: true
ssvc:
  exploitation: poc
  automatable: 'no'
  technicalImpact: partial
  timestamp: '2024-10-28T17:05:21.199995Z'
---

## Overview

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

- `elfutils = 0.183`

## Remediation

Refer to the linked advisories for vendor-supplied fixes and affected version ranges.