--- binutils.orig/bfd/elf.c	2022-12-13 15:21:20.040233487 +0000

+++ binutils-2.39/bfd/elf.c	2022-12-13 15:22:33.580986232 +0000

@@ -8868,7 +8868,9 @@ _bfd_elf_slurp_version_tables (bfd *abfd

 	  bfd_set_error (bfd_error_file_too_big);

 	  goto error_return_verref;

 	}

-      elf_tdata (abfd)->verref = (Elf_Internal_Verneed *) bfd_alloc (abfd, amt);

+      if (amt == 0)

+       goto error_return_verref;

+      elf_tdata (abfd)->verref = (Elf_Internal_Verneed *) bfd_zalloc (abfd, amt);

       if (elf_tdata (abfd)->verref == NULL)

 	goto error_return_verref;