diff -rup binutils,orig/bfd/elf.c binutils-2.31.1/bfd/elf.c
--- binutils,orig/bfd/elf.c	2018-08-28 12:38:29.987511521 +0100
+++ binutils-2.31.1/bfd/elf.c	2018-08-28 12:39:35.010036349 +0100
@@ -1877,7 +1877,7 @@ _bfd_elf_get_symbol_version_string (bfd
 	{
 	  Elf_Internal_Verneed *t;
 
-	  version_string = "";
+	  version_string = _("<corrupt>");
 	  for (t = elf_tdata (abfd)->verref;
 	       t != NULL;
 	       t = t->vn_nextref)
diff -rup binutils,orig/binutils/readelf.c binutils-2.31.1/binutils/readelf.c
--- binutils,orig/binutils/readelf.c	2018-08-28 12:38:30.552507392 +0100
+++ binutils-2.31.1/binutils/readelf.c	2018-08-28 12:42:04.625942967 +0100
@@ -11263,6 +11263,7 @@ get_symbol_version_string (Filedata *
   unsigned char data[2];
   unsigned short vers_data;
   unsigned long offset;
+  unsigned short max_vd_ndx;
 
   if (!is_dynsym
       || version_info[DT_VERSIONTAGIDX (DT_VERSYM)] == 0)
@@ -11280,6 +11281,8 @@ get_symbol_version_string (Filedata *
   if ((vers_data & VERSYM_HIDDEN) == 0 && vers_data == 0)
     return NULL;
 
+  max_vd_ndx = 0;
+
   /* Usually we'd only see verdef for defined symbols, and verneed for
      undefined symbols.  However, symbols defined by the linker in
      .dynbss for variables copied from a shared library in order to
@@ -11322,6 +11325,9 @@ get_symbol_version_string (Filedata *
 	      ivd.vd_flags = BYTE_GET (evd.vd_flags);
 	    }
 
+	  if ((ivd.vd_ndx & VERSYM_VERSION) > max_vd_ndx)
+	    max_vd_ndx = ivd.vd_ndx & VERSYM_VERSION;
+
 	  off += ivd.vd_next;
 	}
       while (ivd.vd_ndx != (vers_data & VERSYM_VERSION) && ivd.vd_next != 0);
@@ -11413,6 +11419,9 @@ get_symbol_version_string (Filedata *
 	  return (ivna.vna_name < strtab_size
 		  ? strtab + ivna.vna_name : _("<corrupt>"));
 	}
+      else if ((max_vd_ndx || (vers_data & VERSYM_VERSION) != 1)
+	       && (vers_data & VERSYM_VERSION) > max_vd_ndx)
+	return _("<corrupt>");
     }
   return NULL;
 }