Test SEC_HAS_CONTENTS before reading section contents

bfd_malloc_and_get_section does size sanity checking before allocating
memory and reading contents.  These size checks are not done for bss
style sections, because they typically don't occupy file space and
thus can't be compared against file size.  However, if you are
expecting to look at something other than a whole lot of zeros, don't
allow fuzzers to avoid the size checking.

	* cofflink.c (process_embedded_commands): Don't look at
	sections without SEC_HAS_CONTENTS set.
	* cpu-arm.c (bfd_arm_update_notes): Likewise.
	(bfd_arm_get_mach_from_notes): Likewise.
	* elf-eh-frame.c (_bfd_elf_parse_eh_frame): Likewise.
	* elf-hppa.h (elf_hppa_sort_unwind): Likewise.
	* elf-m10300.c (mn10300_elf_relax_section): Likewise.
	* elf-sframe.c (_bfd_elf_parse_sframe): Likewise.
	* elf.c (_bfd_elf_print_private_bfd_data): Likewise.
	* elf32-arm.c (bfd_elf32_arm_process_before_allocation): Likewise.
	* elf32-avr.c (avr_elf32_load_property_records): Likewise.
	* elf32-ppc.c (_bfd_elf_ppc_set_arch): Likewise.
	(ppc_elf_get_synthetic_symtab, ppc_elf_relax_section): Likewise.
	* elf64-ppc.c (ppc64_elf_get_synthetic_symtab): Likewise.
	(opd_entry_value, ppc64_elf_edit_opd, ppc64_elf_edit_toc): Likewise.
	* elf64-x86-64.c (elf_x86_64_get_synthetic_symtab): Likewise.
	* elflink.c (elf_link_add_object_symbols): Likewise.
	(bfd_elf_get_bfd_needed_list): Likewise.
	* elfnn-aarch64.c (get_plt_type): Likewise.
	* elfxx-mips.c (_bfd_mips_elf_get_synthetic_symtab): Likewise.
	* linker.c (_bfd_handle_already_linked): Likewise.
	* opncls.c (bfd_get_debug_link_info_1): Likewise.
	(bfd_get_alt_debug_link_info, get_build_id): Likewise.
	* peXXigen.c (pe_print_idata, pe_print_pdata): Likewise.
	(_bfd_XX_print_ce_compressed_pdata, pe_print_reloc): Likewise.
	* pei-x86_64.c (pex64_bfd_print_pdata_section): Likewise.
	* stabs.c (_bfd_link_section_stabs): Likewise.
	(_bfd_discard_section_stabs): Likewise.
	* xcofflink.c (_bfd_xcoff_get_dynamic_symtab_upper_bound): Likewise.
	(_bfd_xcoff_canonicalize_dynamic_symtab): Likewise.
	(_bfd_xcoff_get_dynamic_reloc_upper_bound): Likewise.
	(_bfd_xcoff_canonicalize_dynamic_reloc): Likewise.
	(xcoff_link_add_dynamic_symbols): Likewise.
	(xcoff_link_check_dynamic_ar_symbols): Likewise.
	(bfd_xcoff_build_dynamic_sections): Likewise.

21 files changed, 93 insertions, 49 deletions

diff --git a/bfd/cofflink.c b/bfd/cofflink.c
index 3174bd3..0de2e0b 100644
--- a/bfd/cofflink.c
+++ b/bfd/cofflink.c
@@ -1213,7 +1213,7 @@ process_embedded_commands (bfd *output_bfd,
   char *e;
   bfd_byte *copy;
 
-  if (!sec)
+  if (sec == NULL || (sec->flags & SEC_HAS_CONTENTS) == 0)
     return 1;
 
   if (!bfd_malloc_and_get_section (abfd, sec, &copy))
diff --git a/bfd/cpu-arm.c b/bfd/cpu-arm.c
index 09bcf5b..03482b0 100644
--- a/bfd/cpu-arm.c
+++ b/bfd/cpu-arm.c
@@ -418,7 +418,8 @@ bfd_arm_update_notes (bfd *abfd, const char *note_section)
      different.  */
   arm_arch_section = bfd_get_section_by_name (abfd, note_section);
 
-  if (arm_arch_section == NULL)
+  if (arm_arch_section == NULL
+      || (arm_arch_section->flags & SEC_HAS_CONTENTS) == 0)
     return true;
 
   buffer_size = arm_arch_section->size;
@@ -521,7 +522,8 @@ bfd_arm_get_mach_from_notes (bfd *abfd, const char *note_section)
      different.  */
   arm_arch_section = bfd_get_section_by_name (abfd, note_section);
 
-  if (arm_arch_section == NULL)
+  if (arm_arch_section == NULL
+      || (arm_arch_section->flags & SEC_HAS_CONTENTS) == 0)
     return bfd_mach_arm_unknown;
 
   buffer_size = arm_arch_section->size;
diff --git a/bfd/elf-eh-frame.c b/bfd/elf-eh-frame.c
index 90a5848..bf7a990 100644
--- a/bfd/elf-eh-frame.c
+++ b/bfd/elf-eh-frame.c
@@ -602,6 +602,7 @@ _bfd_elf_parse_eh_frame (bfd *abfd, struct bfd_link_info *info,
   hdr_info = &htab->eh_info;
 
   if (sec->size == 0
+      || (sec->flags & SEC_HAS_CONTENTS) == 0
       || sec->sec_info_type != SEC_INFO_TYPE_NONE)
     {
       /* This file does not contain .eh_frame information.  */
diff --git a/bfd/elf-hppa.h b/bfd/elf-hppa.h
index 7896c02..747c5b1 100644
--- a/bfd/elf-hppa.h
+++ b/bfd/elf-hppa.h
@@ -984,7 +984,8 @@ elf_hppa_sort_unwind (bfd *abfd)
      Consider what happens if someone inept creates a linker script
      that puts unwind information in .text.  */
   s = bfd_get_section_by_name (abfd, ".PARISC.unwind");
-  if (s != NULL)
+  if (s != NULL && (s->flags & SEC_HAS_CONTENTS) != 0)
+
     {
       bfd_size_type size;
       bfd_byte *contents;
diff --git a/bfd/elf-m10300.c b/bfd/elf-m10300.c
index bc3daec..7e084e6 100644
--- a/bfd/elf-m10300.c
+++ b/bfd/elf-m10300.c
@@ -2694,7 +2694,8 @@ mn10300_elf_relax_section (bfd *abfd,
 	      if (! ((section->flags & SEC_RELOC) != 0
 		     && section->reloc_count != 0))
 		continue;
-	      if ((section->flags & SEC_ALLOC) == 0)
+	      if ((section->flags & SEC_ALLOC) == 0
+		  || (section->flags & SEC_HAS_CONTENTS) == 0)
 		continue;
 
 	      /* Get cached copy of section contents if it exists.  */
@@ -3034,7 +3035,9 @@ mn10300_elf_relax_section (bfd *abfd,
 	      unsigned int symcount;
 
 	      /* Skip non-code sections and empty sections.  */
-	      if ((section->flags & SEC_CODE) == 0 || section->size == 0)
+	      if ((section->flags & SEC_CODE) == 0
+		  || (section->flags & SEC_HAS_CONTENTS) == 0
+		  || section->size == 0)
 		continue;
 
 	      if (section->reloc_count != 0)
diff --git a/bfd/elf-sframe.c b/bfd/elf-sframe.c
index d2954ba..57d6798 100644
--- a/bfd/elf-sframe.c
+++ b/bfd/elf-sframe.c
@@ -193,6 +193,7 @@ _bfd_elf_parse_sframe (bfd *abfd,
   int decerr = 0;
 
   if (sec->size == 0
+      || (sec->flags & SEC_HAS_CONTENTS) == 0
       || sec->sec_info_type != SEC_INFO_TYPE_NONE)
     {
       /* This file does not contain .sframe information.  */
diff --git a/bfd/elf.c b/bfd/elf.c
index a82a1dd..37f331b 100644
--- a/bfd/elf.c
+++ b/bfd/elf.c
@@ -1689,7 +1689,7 @@ _bfd_elf_print_private_bfd_data (bfd *abfd, void *farg)
     }
 
   s = bfd_get_section_by_name (abfd, ".dynamic");
-  if (s != NULL)
+  if (s != NULL && (s->flags & SEC_HAS_CONTENTS) != 0)
     {
       unsigned int elfsec;
       unsigned long shlink;
diff --git a/bfd/elf32-arm.c b/bfd/elf32-arm.c
index a6d83b9..e07e122 100644
--- a/bfd/elf32-arm.c
+++ b/bfd/elf32-arm.c
@@ -7882,7 +7882,8 @@ bfd_elf32_arm_process_before_allocation (bfd *abfd,
       if (sec->reloc_count == 0)
 	continue;
 
-      if ((sec->flags & SEC_EXCLUDE) != 0)
+      if ((sec->flags & SEC_EXCLUDE) != 0
+	  || (sec->flags & SEC_HAS_CONTENTS) == 0)
 	continue;
 
       symtab_hdr = & elf_symtab_hdr (abfd);
diff --git a/bfd/elf32-avr.c b/bfd/elf32-avr.c
index e397468..c01355a 100644
--- a/bfd/elf32-avr.c
+++ b/bfd/elf32-avr.c
@@ -4216,7 +4216,7 @@ avr_elf32_load_property_records (bfd *abfd)
 
   /* Find the '.avr.prop' section and load the contents into memory.  */
   sec = bfd_get_section_by_name (abfd, AVR_PROPERTY_RECORD_SECTION_NAME);
-  if (sec == NULL)
+  if (sec == NULL || (sec->flags & SEC_HAS_CONTENTS) == 0)
     return NULL;
   return avr_elf32_load_records_from_section (abfd, sec);
 }
diff --git a/bfd/elf32-ppc.c b/bfd/elf32-ppc.c
index 833bc74..bb77ba2 100644
--- a/bfd/elf32-ppc.c
+++ b/bfd/elf32-ppc.c
@@ -1087,6 +1087,7 @@ _bfd_elf_ppc_set_arch (bfd *abfd)
       s = bfd_get_section_by_name (abfd, APUINFO_SECTION_NAME);
       if (s != NULL
 	  && s->size >= 24
+	  && (s->flags & SEC_HAS_CONTENTS) != 0
 	  && bfd_malloc_and_get_section (abfd, s, &contents))
 	{
 	  unsigned int apuinfo_size = bfd_get_32 (abfd, contents + 4);
@@ -1840,7 +1841,8 @@ ppc_elf_get_synthetic_symtab (bfd *abfd, long symcount, asymbol **syms,
   /* If this object was prelinked, the prelinker stored the address
      of .glink at got[1].  If it wasn't prelinked, got[1] will be zero.  */
   dynamic = bfd_get_section_by_name (abfd, ".dynamic");
-  if (dynamic != NULL)
+  if (dynamic != NULL
+      && (dynamic->flags & SEC_HAS_CONTENTS) != 0)
     {
       bfd_byte *dynbuf, *extdyn, *extdynend;
       size_t extdynsize;
@@ -6106,6 +6108,7 @@ ppc_elf_relax_section (bfd *abfd,
   /* No need to do anything with non-alloc or non-code sections.  */
   if ((isec->flags & SEC_ALLOC) == 0
       || (isec->flags & SEC_CODE) == 0
+      || (isec->flags & SEC_HAS_CONTENTS) == 0
       || (isec->flags & SEC_LINKER_CREATED) != 0
       || isec->size < 4)
     return true;
diff --git a/bfd/elf64-ppc.c b/bfd/elf64-ppc.c
index 193e00b..069bd75 100644
--- a/bfd/elf64-ppc.c
+++ b/bfd/elf64-ppc.c
@@ -2472,7 +2472,9 @@ ppc64_elf_get_synthetic_symtab (bfd *abfd,
       asection *dynamic, *glink = NULL, *relplt = NULL;
       arelent *p;
 
-      if (opd != NULL && !bfd_malloc_and_get_section (abfd, opd, &contents))
+      if (opd != NULL
+	  && ((opd->flags & SEC_HAS_CONTENTS) == 0
+	      || !bfd_malloc_and_get_section (abfd, opd, &contents)))
 	{
 	free_contents_and_exit_err:
 	  count = -1;
@@ -2507,7 +2509,8 @@ ppc64_elf_get_synthetic_symtab (bfd *abfd,
 	  size_t extdynsize;
 	  void (*swap_dyn_in) (bfd *, const void *, Elf_Internal_Dyn *);
 
-	  if (!bfd_malloc_and_get_section (abfd, dynamic, &dynbuf))
+	  if ((dynamic->flags & SEC_HAS_CONTENTS) == 0
+	      || !bfd_malloc_and_get_section (abfd, dynamic, &dynbuf))
 	    goto free_contents_and_exit_err;
 
 	  extdynsize = get_elf_backend_data (abfd)->s->sizeof_dyn;
@@ -5536,7 +5539,8 @@ opd_entry_value (asection *opd_sec,
 
       if (contents == NULL)
 	{
-	  if (!bfd_malloc_and_get_section (opd_bfd, opd_sec, &contents))
+	  if ((opd_sec->flags & SEC_HAS_CONTENTS) == 0
+	      || !bfd_malloc_and_get_section (opd_bfd, opd_sec, &contents))
 	    return (bfd_vma) -1;
 	  ppc64_elf_tdata (opd_bfd)->opd.contents = contents;
 	}
@@ -7361,7 +7365,9 @@ ppc64_elf_edit_opd (struct bfd_link_info *info)
 	continue;
 
       sec = bfd_get_section_by_name (ibfd, ".opd");
-      if (sec == NULL || sec->size == 0)
+      if (sec == NULL
+	  || sec->size == 0
+	  || (sec->flags & SEC_HAS_CONTENTS) == 0)
 	continue;
 
       if (sec->sec_info_type == SEC_INFO_TYPE_JUST_SYMS)
@@ -8922,6 +8928,7 @@ ppc64_elf_edit_toc (struct bfd_link_info *info)
       toc = bfd_get_section_by_name (ibfd, ".toc");
       if (toc == NULL
 	  || toc->size == 0
+	  || (toc->flags & SEC_HAS_CONTENTS) == 0
 	  || toc->sec_info_type == SEC_INFO_TYPE_JUST_SYMS
 	  || discarded_section (toc))
 	continue;
diff --git a/bfd/elf64-x86-64.c b/bfd/elf64-x86-64.c
index 5f89190..ef0ebdd 100644
--- a/bfd/elf64-x86-64.c
+++ b/bfd/elf64-x86-64.c
@@ -4967,7 +4967,9 @@ elf_x86_64_get_synthetic_symtab (bfd *abfd,
   for (j = 0; plts[j].name != NULL; j++)
     {
       plt = bfd_get_section_by_name (abfd, plts[j].name);
-      if (plt == NULL || plt->size == 0)
+      if (plt == NULL
+	  || plt->size == 0
+	  || (plt->flags & SEC_HAS_CONTENTS) == 0)
 	continue;
 
       /* Get the PLT section contents.  */
diff --git a/bfd/elflink.c b/bfd/elflink.c
index 80e3a8d..bab1a36 100644
--- a/bfd/elflink.c
+++ b/bfd/elflink.c
@@ -4386,7 +4386,7 @@ elf_link_add_object_symbols (bfd *abfd, struct bfd_link_info *info)
 		       | DYN_NO_NEEDED)) == 0;
 
       s = bfd_get_section_by_name (abfd, ".dynamic");
-      if (s != NULL && s->size != 0)
+      if (s != NULL && s->size != 0 && (s->flags & SEC_HAS_CONTENTS) != 0)
 	{
 	  bfd_byte *dynbuf;
 	  bfd_byte *extdyn;
@@ -8204,7 +8204,7 @@ bfd_elf_get_bfd_needed_list (bfd *abfd,
     return true;
 
   s = bfd_get_section_by_name (abfd, ".dynamic");
-  if (s == NULL || s->size == 0)
+  if (s == NULL || s->size == 0 || (s->flags & SEC_HAS_CONTENTS) == 0)
     return true;
 
   if (!bfd_malloc_and_get_section (abfd, s, &dynbuf))
diff --git a/bfd/elfnn-aarch64.c b/bfd/elfnn-aarch64.c
index c109ccd..bf8f913 100644
--- a/bfd/elfnn-aarch64.c
+++ b/bfd/elfnn-aarch64.c
@@ -9880,6 +9880,7 @@ get_plt_type (bfd *abfd)
   bfd_byte *contents, *extdyn, *extdynend;
   asection *sec = bfd_get_section_by_name (abfd, ".dynamic");
   if (!sec
+      || (sec->flags & SEC_HAS_CONTENTS) == 0
       || sec->size < sizeof (ElfNN_External_Dyn)
       || !bfd_malloc_and_get_section (abfd, sec, &contents))
     return ret;
diff --git a/bfd/elfxx-mips.c b/bfd/elfxx-mips.c
index e9fb61f..5b66cb8 100644
--- a/bfd/elfxx-mips.c
+++ b/bfd/elfxx-mips.c
@@ -16572,7 +16572,7 @@ _bfd_mips_elf_get_synthetic_symtab (bfd *abfd,
     return 0;
 
   plt = bfd_get_section_by_name (abfd, ".plt");
-  if (plt == NULL)
+  if (plt == NULL || (plt->flags & SEC_HAS_CONTENTS) == 0)
     return 0;
 
   slurp_relocs = get_elf_backend_data (abfd)->s->slurp_reloc_table;
diff --git a/bfd/linker.c b/bfd/linker.c
index 4fb7a66..e57c9ee 100644
--- a/bfd/linker.c
+++ b/bfd/linker.c
@@ -2880,27 +2880,38 @@ _bfd_handle_already_linked (asection *sec,
 	   sec->owner, sec);
       else if (sec->size != 0)
 	{
-	  bfd_byte *sec_contents, *l_sec_contents = NULL;
-
-	  if (!bfd_malloc_and_get_section (sec->owner, sec, &sec_contents))
+	  bfd_byte *sec_contents, *l_sec_contents;
+
+	  if ((sec->flags & SEC_HAS_CONTENTS) == 0
+	      && (l->sec->flags & SEC_HAS_CONTENTS) == 0)
+	    ;
+	  else if ((sec->flags & SEC_HAS_CONTENTS) == 0
+		   || !bfd_malloc_and_get_section (sec->owner, sec,
+						   &sec_contents))
 	    info->callbacks->einfo
 	      /* xgettext:c-format */
 	      (_("%pB: could not read contents of section `%pA'\n"),
 	       sec->owner, sec);
-	  else if (!bfd_malloc_and_get_section (l->sec->owner, l->sec,
-						&l_sec_contents))
-	    info->callbacks->einfo
-	      /* xgettext:c-format */
-	      (_("%pB: could not read contents of section `%pA'\n"),
-	       l->sec->owner, l->sec);
-	  else if (memcmp (sec_contents, l_sec_contents, sec->size) != 0)
-	    info->callbacks->einfo
-	      /* xgettext:c-format */
-	      (_("%pB: duplicate section `%pA' has different contents\n"),
-	       sec->owner, sec);
-
-	  free (sec_contents);
-	  free (l_sec_contents);
+	  else if ((l->sec->flags & SEC_HAS_CONTENTS) == 0
+		   || !bfd_malloc_and_get_section (l->sec->owner, l->sec,
+						   &l_sec_contents))
+	    {
+	      info->callbacks->einfo
+		/* xgettext:c-format */
+		(_("%pB: could not read contents of section `%pA'\n"),
+		 l->sec->owner, l->sec);
+	      free (sec_contents);
+	    }
+	  else
+	    {
+	      if (memcmp (sec_contents, l_sec_contents, sec->size) != 0)
+		info->callbacks->einfo
+		  /* xgettext:c-format */
+		  (_("%pB: duplicate section `%pA' has different contents\n"),
+		   sec->owner, sec);
+	      free (l_sec_contents);
+	      free (sec_contents);
+	    }
 	}
       break;
     }
diff --git a/bfd/opncls.c b/bfd/opncls.c
index cdf09b3..abea464 100644
--- a/bfd/opncls.c
+++ b/bfd/opncls.c
@@ -1201,7 +1201,7 @@ bfd_get_debug_link_info_1 (bfd *abfd, void *crc32_out)
 
   sect = bfd_get_section_by_name (abfd, GNU_DEBUGLINK);
 
-  if (sect == NULL)
+  if (sect == NULL || (sect->flags & SEC_HAS_CONTENTS) == 0)
     return NULL;
 
   size = bfd_section_size (sect);
@@ -1289,7 +1289,7 @@ bfd_get_alt_debug_link_info (bfd * abfd, bfd_size_type *buildid_len,
 
   sect = bfd_get_section_by_name (abfd, GNU_DEBUGALTLINK);
 
-  if (sect == NULL)
+  if (sect == NULL || (sect->flags & SEC_HAS_CONTENTS) == 0)
     return NULL;
 
   size = bfd_section_size (sect);
@@ -1801,7 +1801,8 @@ get_build_id (bfd *abfd)
     return (struct bfd_build_id *) abfd->build_id;
 
   sect = bfd_get_section_by_name (abfd, ".note.gnu.build-id");
-  if (sect == NULL)
+  if (sect == NULL
+      || (sect->flags & SEC_HAS_CONTENTS) == 0)
     {
       bfd_set_error (bfd_error_no_debug_section);
       return NULL;
diff --git a/bfd/peXXigen.c b/bfd/peXXigen.c
index fa2b429..43f3a83 100644
--- a/bfd/peXXigen.c
+++ b/bfd/peXXigen.c
@@ -1288,7 +1288,7 @@ pe_print_idata (bfd * abfd, void * vfile)
     {
       /* Maybe the extra header isn't there.  Look for the section.  */
       section = bfd_get_section_by_name (abfd, ".idata");
-      if (section == NULL)
+      if (section == NULL || (section->flags & SEC_HAS_CONTENTS) == 0)
 	return true;
 
       addr = section->vma;
@@ -1845,6 +1845,7 @@ pe_print_pdata (bfd * abfd, void * vfile)
   int onaline = PDATA_ROW_SIZE;
 
   if (section == NULL
+      || (section->flags & SEC_HAS_CONTENTS) == 0
       || coff_section_data (abfd, section) == NULL
       || pei_section_data (abfd, section) == NULL)
     return true;
@@ -2014,6 +2015,7 @@ _bfd_XX_print_ce_compressed_pdata (bfd * abfd, void * vfile)
   struct sym_cache cache = {0, 0} ;
 
   if (section == NULL
+      || (section->flags & SEC_HAS_CONTENTS) == 0
       || coff_section_data (abfd, section) == NULL
       || pei_section_data (abfd, section) == NULL)
     return true;
@@ -2147,7 +2149,9 @@ pe_print_reloc (bfd * abfd, void * vfile)
   asection *section = bfd_get_section_by_name (abfd, ".reloc");
   bfd_byte *p, *end;
 
-  if (section == NULL || section->size == 0 || !(section->flags & SEC_HAS_CONTENTS))
+  if (section == NULL
+      || section->size == 0
+      || (section->flags & SEC_HAS_CONTENTS) == 0)
     return true;
 
   fprintf (file,
diff --git a/bfd/pei-x86_64.c b/bfd/pei-x86_64.c
index c33d422..4d2ba71 100644
--- a/bfd/pei-x86_64.c
+++ b/bfd/pei-x86_64.c
@@ -555,6 +555,7 @@ pex64_bfd_print_pdata_section (bfd *abfd, void *vfile, asection *pdata_section)
 
   /* Sanity checks.  */
   if (pdata_section == NULL
+      || (pdata_section->flags & SEC_HAS_CONTENTS) == 0
       || coff_section_data (abfd, pdata_section) == NULL
       || pei_section_data (abfd, pdata_section) == NULL)
     return true;
@@ -699,6 +700,7 @@ pex64_bfd_print_pdata_section (bfd *abfd, void *vfile, asection *pdata_section)
     xdata_section = pex64_get_section_by_rva (abfd, xdata_base, ".text");
   /* Transfer xdata section into xdata array.  */
   if (!xdata_section
+      || (xdata_section->flags & SEC_HAS_CONTENTS) == 0
       || !bfd_malloc_and_get_section (abfd, xdata_section, &xdata))
     goto done;
 
diff --git a/bfd/stabs.c b/bfd/stabs.c
index da0c61d..1cce2ae 100644
--- a/bfd/stabs.c
+++ b/bfd/stabs.c
@@ -162,7 +162,9 @@ _bfd_link_section_stabs (bfd *abfd,
   bfd_size_type *pstridx;
 
   if (stabsec->size == 0
-      || stabstrsec->size == 0)
+      || stabstrsec->size == 0
+      || (stabsec->flags & SEC_HAS_CONTENTS) == 0
+      || (stabstrsec->flags & SEC_HAS_CONTENTS) == 0)
     /* This file does not contain stabs debugging information.  */
     return true;
 
@@ -520,7 +522,7 @@ _bfd_discard_section_stabs (bfd *abfd,
   bfd_size_type *pstridx;
   int deleting;
 
-  if (stabsec->size == 0)
+  if (stabsec->size == 0 || (stabsec->flags & SEC_HAS_CONTENTS) == 0)
     /* This file does not contain stabs debugging information.  */
     return false;
 
diff --git a/bfd/xcofflink.c b/bfd/xcofflink.c
index b3ab780..a67f24b 100644
--- a/bfd/xcofflink.c
+++ b/bfd/xcofflink.c
@@ -259,7 +259,7 @@ _bfd_xcoff_get_dynamic_symtab_upper_bound (bfd *abfd)
     }
 
   lsec = bfd_get_section_by_name (abfd, ".loader");
-  if (lsec == NULL)
+  if (lsec == NULL || (lsec->flags & SEC_HAS_CONTENTS) == 0)
     {
       bfd_set_error (bfd_error_no_symbols);
       return -1;
@@ -293,7 +293,7 @@ _bfd_xcoff_canonicalize_dynamic_symtab (bfd *abfd, asymbol **psyms)
     }
 
   lsec = bfd_get_section_by_name (abfd, ".loader");
-  if (lsec == NULL)
+  if (lsec == NULL || (lsec->flags & SEC_HAS_CONTENTS) == 0)
     {
       bfd_set_error (bfd_error_no_symbols);
       return -1;
@@ -378,7 +378,7 @@ _bfd_xcoff_get_dynamic_reloc_upper_bound (bfd *abfd)
     }
 
   lsec = bfd_get_section_by_name (abfd, ".loader");
-  if (lsec == NULL)
+  if (lsec == NULL || (lsec->flags & SEC_HAS_CONTENTS) == 0)
     {
       bfd_set_error (bfd_error_no_symbols);
       return -1;
@@ -413,7 +413,7 @@ _bfd_xcoff_canonicalize_dynamic_reloc (bfd *abfd,
     }
 
   lsec = bfd_get_section_by_name (abfd, ".loader");
-  if (lsec == NULL)
+  if (lsec == NULL || (lsec->flags & SEC_HAS_CONTENTS) == 0)
     {
       bfd_set_error (bfd_error_no_symbols);
       return -1;
@@ -904,7 +904,7 @@ xcoff_link_add_dynamic_symbols (bfd *abfd, struct bfd_link_info *info)
      o_snloader field in the a.out header, rather than grabbing the
      section by name.  */
   lsec = bfd_get_section_by_name (abfd, ".loader");
-  if (lsec == NULL)
+  if (lsec == NULL || (lsec->flags & SEC_HAS_CONTENTS) == 0)
     {
       _bfd_error_handler
 	(_("%pB: dynamic object with no .loader section"),
@@ -2373,7 +2373,7 @@ xcoff_link_check_dynamic_ar_symbols (bfd *abfd,
   *pneeded = false;
 
   lsec = bfd_get_section_by_name (abfd, ".loader");
-  if (lsec == NULL)
+  if (lsec == NULL || (lsec->flags & SEC_HAS_CONTENTS) == 0)
     /* There are no symbols, so don't try to include it.  */
     return true;
 
@@ -4128,7 +4128,9 @@ bfd_xcoff_build_dynamic_sections (bfd *output_bfd,
 	{
 	  /* Grab the contents of SUB's .debug section, if any.  */
 	  subdeb = bfd_get_section_by_name (sub, ".debug");
-	  if (subdeb != NULL && subdeb->size > 0)
+	  if (subdeb != NULL
+	      && subdeb->size != 0
+	      && (subdeb->flags & SEC_HAS_CONTENTS) != 0)
 	    {
 	      /* We use malloc and copy the names into the debug
 		 stringtab, rather than bfd_alloc, because I expect