From: Alan Modra <amodra@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 19 Feb 2020 02:46:01 +0000 (+1030)
Subject: _bfd_alloc_and_read
X-Git-Url: https://git.libre-soc.org/?a=commitdiff_plain;h=2bb3687ba8720558082d1575823868286d7916b5;p=binutils-gdb.git

_bfd_alloc_and_read

This patch provides two new inline functions that are then used in
places that allocate memory, read from file, and then deallocate on a
read failure.

	* libbfd-in.h (_bfd_alloc_and_read, _bfd_malloc_and_read): New.
	* aoutx.h (aout_get_external_symbols): Replace calls to
	bfd_[m]alloc and bfd_bread with call to _bfd_[m]alloc_and_read.
	(slurp_reloc_table): Likewise.
	* archive.c (do_slurp_bsd_armap): Likewise.
	(do_slurp_coff_armap): Likewise.
	* archive64.c (_bfd_archive_64_bit_slurp_armap): Likewise.
	* coff-rs6000.c (_bfd_xcoff_slurp_armap): Likewise.
	* coff64-rs6000.c (xcoff64_slurp_armap): Likewise.
	* coffcode.h (coff_set_arch_mach_hook, buy_and_read): Likewise.
	* coffgen.c (coff_real_object_p, coff_object_p, build_debug_section),
	(_bfd_coff_get_external_symbols): Likewise.
	* ecoff.c (ecoff_slurp_symbolic_header),
	(_bfd_ecoff_slurp_symbolic_info, ecoff_slurp_reloc_table),
	(_bfd_ecoff_slurp_armap, ecoff_link_add_object_symbols, READ),
	(ecoff_indirect_link_order): Likewise.
	* elf.c (bfd_elf_get_str_section, setup_group, elf_read_notes),
	(_bfd_elf_slurp_version_tables): Likewise.
	* elf32-m32c.c (m32c_elf_relax_section): Likewise.
	* elf32-rl78.c (rl78_elf_relax_section): Likewise.
	* elf32-rx.c (elf32_rx_relax_section): Likewise.
	* elf64-alpha.c (READ): Likewise.
	* elf64-mips.c (mips_elf64_slurp_one_reloc_table): Likewise.
	* elf64-sparc.c (elf64_sparc_slurp_one_reloc_table): Likewise.
	* elfcode.h (elf_slurp_symbol_table),
	(elf_slurp_reloc_table_from_section): Likewise.
	* elflink.c (elf_link_add_object_symbols),
	(elf_link_check_versioned_symbol): Likewise.
	* elfxx-mips.c (READ): Likewise.
	* i386lynx.c (slurp_reloc_table): Likewise.
	* lynx-core.c (lynx_core_file_p): Likewise.
	* mach-o.c (bfd_mach_o_canonicalize_relocs),
	(bfd_mach_o_read_symtab_strtab, bfd_mach_o_alloc_and_read),
	(bfd_mach_o_read_prebound_dylib, bfd_mach_o_read_dyld_content
	* pdp11.c (aout_get_external_symbols, slurp_reloc_table
	* pef.c (bfd_pef_print_loader_section, bfd_pef_scan_start_address),
	(bfd_pef_parse_symbols): Likewise.
	* peicode.h (pe_ILF_object_p, pe_bfd_object_p
	* som.c (setup_sections, som_slurp_string_table),
	(som_slurp_reloc_table, som_bfd_count_ar_symbols),
	(som_bfd_fill_in_ar_symbols): Likewise.
	* vms-alpha.c (module_find_nearest_line, evax_bfd_print_dst),
	(evax_bfd_print_image): Likewise.
	* vms-lib.c (_bfd_vms_lib_archive_p): Likewise.
	* wasm-module.c (wasm_scan): Likewise.
	* xcofflink.c (xcoff_link_add_symbols): Likewise.
	* xsym.c (bfd_sym_read_name_table),
	(bfd_sym_print_type_information_table_entry): Likewise.
	* libbfd.h: Regenerate.
---

diff --git a/bfd/ChangeLog b/bfd/ChangeLog
index 85747ad64f9..f2ddd86a3c9 100644
--- a/bfd/ChangeLog
+++ b/bfd/ChangeLog
@@ -1,3 +1,55 @@
+2020-02-19  Alan Modra  <amodra@gmail.com>
+
+	* libbfd-in.h (_bfd_alloc_and_read, _bfd_malloc_and_read): New.
+	* aoutx.h (aout_get_external_symbols): Replace calls to
+	bfd_[m]alloc and bfd_bread with call to _bfd_[m]alloc_and_read.
+	(slurp_reloc_table): Likewise.
+	* archive.c (do_slurp_bsd_armap): Likewise.
+	(do_slurp_coff_armap): Likewise.
+	* archive64.c (_bfd_archive_64_bit_slurp_armap): Likewise.
+	* coff-rs6000.c (_bfd_xcoff_slurp_armap): Likewise.
+	* coff64-rs6000.c (xcoff64_slurp_armap): Likewise.
+	* coffcode.h (coff_set_arch_mach_hook, buy_and_read): Likewise.
+	* coffgen.c (coff_real_object_p, coff_object_p, build_debug_section),
+	(_bfd_coff_get_external_symbols): Likewise.
+	* ecoff.c (ecoff_slurp_symbolic_header),
+	(_bfd_ecoff_slurp_symbolic_info, ecoff_slurp_reloc_table),
+	(_bfd_ecoff_slurp_armap, ecoff_link_add_object_symbols, READ),
+	(ecoff_indirect_link_order): Likewise.
+	* elf.c (bfd_elf_get_str_section, setup_group, elf_read_notes),
+	(_bfd_elf_slurp_version_tables): Likewise.
+	* elf32-m32c.c (m32c_elf_relax_section): Likewise.
+	* elf32-rl78.c (rl78_elf_relax_section): Likewise.
+	* elf32-rx.c (elf32_rx_relax_section): Likewise.
+	* elf64-alpha.c (READ): Likewise.
+	* elf64-mips.c (mips_elf64_slurp_one_reloc_table): Likewise.
+	* elf64-sparc.c (elf64_sparc_slurp_one_reloc_table): Likewise.
+	* elfcode.h (elf_slurp_symbol_table),
+	(elf_slurp_reloc_table_from_section): Likewise.
+	* elflink.c (elf_link_add_object_symbols),
+	(elf_link_check_versioned_symbol): Likewise.
+	* elfxx-mips.c (READ): Likewise.
+	* i386lynx.c (slurp_reloc_table): Likewise.
+	* lynx-core.c (lynx_core_file_p): Likewise.
+	* mach-o.c (bfd_mach_o_canonicalize_relocs),
+	(bfd_mach_o_read_symtab_strtab, bfd_mach_o_alloc_and_read),
+	(bfd_mach_o_read_prebound_dylib, bfd_mach_o_read_dyld_content
+	* pdp11.c (aout_get_external_symbols, slurp_reloc_table
+	* pef.c (bfd_pef_print_loader_section, bfd_pef_scan_start_address),
+	(bfd_pef_parse_symbols): Likewise.
+	* peicode.h (pe_ILF_object_p, pe_bfd_object_p
+	* som.c (setup_sections, som_slurp_string_table),
+	(som_slurp_reloc_table, som_bfd_count_ar_symbols),
+	(som_bfd_fill_in_ar_symbols): Likewise.
+	* vms-alpha.c (module_find_nearest_line, evax_bfd_print_dst),
+	(evax_bfd_print_image): Likewise.
+	* vms-lib.c (_bfd_vms_lib_archive_p): Likewise.
+	* wasm-module.c (wasm_scan): Likewise.
+	* xcofflink.c (xcoff_link_add_symbols): Likewise.
+	* xsym.c (bfd_sym_read_name_table),
+	(bfd_sym_print_type_information_table_entry): Likewise.
+	* libbfd.h: Regenerate.
+
 2020-02-19  Alan Modra  <amodra@gmail.com>
 
 	* aoutx.h (slurp_reloc_table): Allocate reloc_cache after
diff --git a/bfd/aoutx.h b/bfd/aoutx.h
index 7cc72b4b677..b843357b091 100644
--- a/bfd/aoutx.h
+++ b/bfd/aoutx.h
@@ -1303,16 +1303,11 @@ aout_get_external_symbols (bfd *abfd)
       /* We allocate using malloc to make the values easy to free
 	 later on.  If we put them on the objalloc it might not be
 	 possible to free them.  */
-      syms = (struct external_nlist *) bfd_malloc (amt);
+      if (bfd_seek (abfd, obj_sym_filepos (abfd), SEEK_SET) != 0)
+	return FALSE;
+      syms = (struct external_nlist *) _bfd_malloc_and_read (abfd, amt, amt);
       if (syms == NULL)
 	return FALSE;
-
-      if (bfd_seek (abfd, obj_sym_filepos (abfd), SEEK_SET) != 0
-	  || bfd_bread (syms, amt, abfd) != amt)
-	{
-	  free (syms);
-	  return FALSE;
-	}
 #endif
 
       obj_aout_external_syms (abfd) = syms;
@@ -2323,17 +2318,10 @@ NAME (aout, slurp_reloc_table) (bfd *abfd, sec_ptr asect, asymbol **symbols)
 
   if (bfd_seek (abfd, asect->rel_filepos, SEEK_SET) != 0)
     return FALSE;
-
-  relocs = bfd_malloc (reloc_size);
+  relocs = _bfd_malloc_and_read (abfd, reloc_size, reloc_size);
   if (relocs == NULL)
     return FALSE;
 
-  if (bfd_bread (relocs, reloc_size, abfd) != reloc_size)
-    {
-      free (relocs);
-      return FALSE;
-    }
-
   amt = count * sizeof (arelent);
   reloc_cache = (arelent *) bfd_zmalloc (amt);
   if (reloc_cache == NULL)
diff --git a/bfd/archive.c b/bfd/archive.c
index 91127d7e6be..d2a9a65ea9b 100644
--- a/bfd/archive.c
+++ b/bfd/archive.c
@@ -968,16 +968,11 @@ do_slurp_bsd_armap (bfd *abfd)
   if (parsed_size < 4)
     return FALSE;
 
-  raw_armap = (bfd_byte *) bfd_alloc (abfd, parsed_size);
+  raw_armap = (bfd_byte *) _bfd_alloc_and_read (abfd, parsed_size, parsed_size);
   if (raw_armap == NULL)
-    return FALSE;
-
-  if (bfd_bread (raw_armap, parsed_size, abfd) != parsed_size)
     {
       if (bfd_get_error () != bfd_error_system_call)
 	bfd_set_error (bfd_error_malformed_archive);
-    byebye:
-      bfd_release (abfd, raw_armap);
       return FALSE;
     }
 
@@ -987,7 +982,8 @@ do_slurp_bsd_armap (bfd *abfd)
     {
       /* Probably we're using the wrong byte ordering.  */
       bfd_set_error (bfd_error_wrong_format);
-      goto byebye;
+      bfd_release (abfd, raw_armap);
+      return FALSE;
     }
 
   rbase = raw_armap + BSD_SYMDEF_COUNT_SIZE;
@@ -997,7 +993,10 @@ do_slurp_bsd_armap (bfd *abfd)
   amt = ardata->symdef_count * sizeof (carsym);
   ardata->symdefs = (struct carsym *) bfd_alloc (abfd, amt);
   if (!ardata->symdefs)
-    return FALSE;
+    {
+      bfd_release (abfd, raw_armap);
+      return FALSE;
+    }
 
   for (counter = 0, set = ardata->symdefs;
        counter < ardata->symdef_count;
@@ -1081,10 +1080,8 @@ do_slurp_coff_armap (bfd *abfd)
   stringbase = ((char *) ardata->symdefs) + carsym_size;
 
   /* Allocate and read in the raw offsets.  */
-  raw_armap = (int *) bfd_alloc (abfd, ptrsize);
-  if (raw_armap == NULL)
-    goto release_symdefs;
-  if (bfd_bread (raw_armap, ptrsize, abfd) != ptrsize
+  raw_armap = (int *) _bfd_alloc_and_read (abfd, ptrsize, ptrsize);
+  if (raw_armap == NULL
       || (bfd_bread (stringbase, stringsize, abfd) != stringsize))
     {
       if (bfd_get_error () != bfd_error_system_call)
diff --git a/bfd/archive64.c b/bfd/archive64.c
index c693ff9d0b1..5cad723ddbb 100644
--- a/bfd/archive64.c
+++ b/bfd/archive64.c
@@ -108,11 +108,8 @@ _bfd_archive_64_bit_slurp_armap (bfd *abfd)
   carsyms = ardata->symdefs;
   stringbase = ((char *) ardata->symdefs) + carsym_size;
 
-  raw_armap = (bfd_byte *) bfd_alloc (abfd, ptrsize);
-  if (raw_armap == NULL)
-    goto release_symdefs;
-
-  if (bfd_bread (raw_armap, ptrsize, abfd) != ptrsize
+  raw_armap = (bfd_byte *) _bfd_alloc_and_read (abfd, ptrsize, ptrsize);
+  if (raw_armap == NULL
       || bfd_bread (stringbase, stringsize, abfd) != stringsize)
     {
       if (bfd_get_error () != bfd_error_system_call)
diff --git a/bfd/coff-rs6000.c b/bfd/coff-rs6000.c
index 86b4763a10f..c30b360d83f 100644
--- a/bfd/coff-rs6000.c
+++ b/bfd/coff-rs6000.c
@@ -1267,11 +1267,9 @@ _bfd_xcoff_slurp_armap (bfd *abfd)
 	}
 
       /* Read in the entire symbol table.  */
-      contents = (bfd_byte *) bfd_alloc (abfd, sz + 1);
+      contents = (bfd_byte *) _bfd_alloc_and_read (abfd, sz + 1, sz);
       if (contents == NULL)
 	return FALSE;
-      if (bfd_bread (contents, sz, abfd) != sz)
-	return FALSE;
 
       /* Ensure strings are NULL terminated so we don't wander off the
 	 end of the buffer.  */
@@ -1331,11 +1329,9 @@ _bfd_xcoff_slurp_armap (bfd *abfd)
 	}
 
       /* Read in the entire symbol table.  */
-      contents = (bfd_byte *) bfd_alloc (abfd, sz + 1);
+      contents = (bfd_byte *) _bfd_alloc_and_read (abfd, sz + 1, sz);
       if (contents == NULL)
 	return FALSE;
-      if (bfd_bread (contents, sz, abfd) != sz)
-	return FALSE;
 
       /* Ensure strings are NULL terminated so we don't wander off the
 	 end of the buffer.  */
diff --git a/bfd/coff64-rs6000.c b/bfd/coff64-rs6000.c
index d39fe4c5900..bb546239fc3 100644
--- a/bfd/coff64-rs6000.c
+++ b/bfd/coff64-rs6000.c
@@ -1940,11 +1940,9 @@ xcoff64_slurp_armap (bfd *abfd)
     }
 
   /* Read in the entire symbol table.  */
-  contents = (bfd_byte *) bfd_alloc (abfd, sz + 1);
+  contents = (bfd_byte *) _bfd_alloc_and_read (abfd, sz + 1, sz);
   if (contents == NULL)
     return FALSE;
-  if (bfd_bread (contents, sz, abfd) != sz)
-    return FALSE;
 
   /* Ensure strings are NULL terminated so we don't wander off the end
      of the buffer.  */
diff --git a/bfd/coffcode.h b/bfd/coffcode.h
index 551105dfb3a..cd495dbe618 100644
--- a/bfd/coffcode.h
+++ b/bfd/coffcode.h
@@ -2222,15 +2222,11 @@ coff_set_arch_mach_hook (bfd *abfd, void * filehdr)
 		struct internal_syment sym;
 		bfd_size_type amt = bfd_coff_symesz (abfd);
 
-		buf = bfd_malloc (amt);
+		if (bfd_seek (abfd, obj_sym_filepos (abfd), SEEK_SET) != 0)
+		  return FALSE;
+		buf = _bfd_malloc_and_read (abfd, amt, amt);
 		if (buf == NULL)
 		  return FALSE;
-		if (bfd_seek (abfd, obj_sym_filepos (abfd), SEEK_SET) != 0
-		    || bfd_bread (buf, amt, abfd) != amt)
-		  {
-		    free (buf);
-		    return FALSE;
-		  }
 		bfd_coff_swap_sym_in (abfd, buf, & sym);
 		if (sym.n_sclass == C_FILE)
 		  cputype = sym.n_type & 0xff;
@@ -4200,7 +4196,6 @@ static void *
 buy_and_read (bfd *abfd, file_ptr where,
 	      bfd_size_type nmemb, bfd_size_type size)
 {
-  void *area;
   size_t amt;
 
   if (_bfd_mul_overflow (nmemb, size, &amt))
@@ -4208,13 +4203,9 @@ buy_and_read (bfd *abfd, file_ptr where,
       bfd_set_error (bfd_error_file_too_big);
       return NULL;
     }
-  area = bfd_alloc (abfd, amt);
-  if (!area)
-    return NULL;
-  if (bfd_seek (abfd, where, SEEK_SET) != 0
-      || bfd_bread (area, amt, abfd) != amt)
+  if (bfd_seek (abfd, where, SEEK_SET) != 0)
     return NULL;
-  return area;
+  return _bfd_alloc_and_read (abfd, amt, amt);
 }
 
 /*
diff --git a/bfd/coffgen.c b/bfd/coffgen.c
index 20cee0a74c5..dda98394f11 100644
--- a/bfd/coffgen.c
+++ b/bfd/coffgen.c
@@ -275,13 +275,10 @@ coff_real_object_p (bfd *abfd,
 
   scnhsz = bfd_coff_scnhsz (abfd);
   readsize = (bfd_size_type) nscns * scnhsz;
-  external_sections = (char *) bfd_alloc (abfd, readsize);
+  external_sections = (char *) _bfd_alloc_and_read (abfd, readsize, readsize);
   if (!external_sections)
     goto fail;
 
-  if (bfd_bread ((void *) external_sections, readsize, abfd) != readsize)
-    goto fail;
-
   /* Set the arch/mach *before* swapping in sections; section header swapping
      may depend on arch/mach info.  */
   if (! bfd_coff_set_arch_mach_hook (abfd, (void *) internal_f))
@@ -332,14 +329,11 @@ coff_object_p (bfd *abfd)
   filhsz = bfd_coff_filhsz (abfd);
   aoutsz = bfd_coff_aoutsz (abfd);
 
-  filehdr = bfd_alloc (abfd, filhsz);
+  filehdr = _bfd_alloc_and_read (abfd, filhsz, filhsz);
   if (filehdr == NULL)
-    return NULL;
-  if (bfd_bread (filehdr, filhsz, abfd) != filhsz)
     {
       if (bfd_get_error () != bfd_error_system_call)
 	bfd_set_error (bfd_error_wrong_format);
-      bfd_release (abfd, filehdr);
       return NULL;
     }
   bfd_coff_swap_filehdr_in (abfd, filehdr, &internal_f);
@@ -365,18 +359,13 @@ coff_object_p (bfd *abfd)
     {
       void * opthdr;
 
-      opthdr = bfd_alloc (abfd, aoutsz);
+      opthdr = _bfd_alloc_and_read (abfd, aoutsz, internal_f.f_opthdr);
       if (opthdr == NULL)
 	return NULL;
-      if (bfd_bread (opthdr, (bfd_size_type) internal_f.f_opthdr, abfd)
-	  != internal_f.f_opthdr)
-	{
-	  bfd_release (abfd, opthdr);
-	  return NULL;
-	}
       /* PR 17512: file: 11056-1136-0.004.  */
       if (internal_f.f_opthdr < aoutsz)
-	memset (((char *) opthdr) + internal_f.f_opthdr, 0, aoutsz - internal_f.f_opthdr);
+	memset (((char *) opthdr) + internal_f.f_opthdr, 0,
+		aoutsz - internal_f.f_opthdr);
 
       bfd_coff_swap_aouthdr_in (abfd, opthdr, (void *) &internal_a);
       bfd_release (abfd, opthdr);
@@ -1593,19 +1582,20 @@ build_debug_section (bfd *abfd, asection ** sect_return)
       return NULL;
     }
 
-  sec_size = sect->size;
-  debug_section = (char *) bfd_alloc (abfd, sec_size);
-  if (debug_section == NULL)
-    return NULL;
-
   /* Seek to the beginning of the `.debug' section and read it.
      Save the current position first; it is needed by our caller.
      Then read debug section and reset the file pointer.  */
 
   position = bfd_tell (abfd);
-  if (bfd_seek (abfd, sect->filepos, SEEK_SET) != 0
-      || bfd_bread (debug_section, sec_size, abfd) != sec_size
-      || bfd_seek (abfd, position, SEEK_SET) != 0)
+  if (bfd_seek (abfd, sect->filepos, SEEK_SET) != 0)
+    return NULL;
+
+  sec_size = sect->size;
+  debug_section = (char *) _bfd_alloc_and_read (abfd, sec_size, sec_size);
+  if (debug_section == NULL)
+    return NULL;
+
+  if (bfd_seek (abfd, position, SEEK_SET) != 0)
     return NULL;
 
   * sect_return = sect;
@@ -1662,27 +1652,11 @@ _bfd_coff_get_external_symbols (bfd *abfd)
   if (size == 0)
     return TRUE;
 
-  syms = bfd_malloc (size);
-  if (syms == NULL)
-    {
-      /* PR 21013: Provide an error message when the alloc fails.  */
-      _bfd_error_handler (_("%pB: not enough memory to allocate space "
-			    "for %#" PRIx64 " symbols of size %#" PRIx64),
-			  abfd, (uint64_t) obj_raw_syment_count (abfd),
-			  (uint64_t) symesz);
-      return FALSE;
-    }
-
-  if (bfd_seek (abfd, obj_sym_filepos (abfd), SEEK_SET) != 0
-      || bfd_bread (syms, size, abfd) != size)
-    {
-      if (syms != NULL)
-	free (syms);
-      return FALSE;
-    }
-
+  if (bfd_seek (abfd, obj_sym_filepos (abfd), SEEK_SET) != 0)
+    return FALSE;
+  syms = _bfd_malloc_and_read (abfd, size, size);
   obj_coff_external_syms (abfd) = syms;
-  return TRUE;
+  return syms != NULL;
 }
 
 /* Read in the external strings.  The strings are not loaded until
diff --git a/bfd/ecoff.c b/bfd/ecoff.c
index 1d9e385b2b5..9e2efac8e3a 100644
--- a/bfd/ecoff.c
+++ b/bfd/ecoff.c
@@ -465,13 +465,12 @@ ecoff_slurp_symbolic_header (bfd *abfd)
     }
 
   /* Read the symbolic information header.  */
-  raw = bfd_malloc (external_hdr_size);
+  if (bfd_seek (abfd, ecoff_data (abfd)->sym_filepos, SEEK_SET) != 0)
+    goto error_return;
+  raw = _bfd_malloc_and_read (abfd, external_hdr_size, external_hdr_size);
   if (raw == NULL)
     goto error_return;
 
-  if (bfd_seek (abfd, ecoff_data (abfd)->sym_filepos, SEEK_SET) != 0
-      || bfd_bread (raw, external_hdr_size, abfd) != external_hdr_size)
-    goto error_return;
   internal_symhdr = &ecoff_data (abfd)->debug_info.symbolic_header;
   (*backend->debug_swap.swap_hdr_in) (abfd, raw, internal_symhdr);
 
@@ -571,18 +570,13 @@ _bfd_ecoff_slurp_symbolic_info (bfd *abfd,
       ecoff_data (abfd)->sym_filepos = 0;
       return TRUE;
     }
-  raw = bfd_alloc (abfd, raw_size);
-  if (raw == NULL)
-    return FALSE;
-
   pos = ecoff_data (abfd)->sym_filepos;
   pos += backend->debug_swap.external_hdr_size;
-  if (bfd_seek (abfd, pos, SEEK_SET) != 0
-      || bfd_bread (raw, raw_size, abfd) != raw_size)
-    {
-      bfd_release (abfd, raw);
-      return FALSE;
-    }
+  if (bfd_seek (abfd, pos, SEEK_SET) != 0)
+    return FALSE;
+  raw = _bfd_alloc_and_read (abfd, raw_size, raw_size);
+  if (raw == NULL)
+    return FALSE;
 
   ecoff_data (abfd)->raw_syments = raw;
 
@@ -1611,7 +1605,7 @@ ecoff_slurp_reloc_table (bfd *abfd,
   arelent *internal_relocs;
   bfd_size_type external_reloc_size;
   bfd_size_type amt;
-  char *external_relocs;
+  bfd_byte *external_relocs;
   arelent *rptr;
   unsigned int i;
 
@@ -1625,12 +1619,10 @@ ecoff_slurp_reloc_table (bfd *abfd,
 
   external_reloc_size = backend->external_reloc_size;
   amt = external_reloc_size * section->reloc_count;
-  external_relocs = (char *) bfd_alloc (abfd, amt);
-  if (external_relocs == NULL)
-    return FALSE;
   if (bfd_seek (abfd, section->rel_filepos, SEEK_SET) != 0)
     return FALSE;
-  if (bfd_bread (external_relocs, amt, abfd) != amt)
+  external_relocs = _bfd_alloc_and_read (abfd, amt, amt);
+  if (external_relocs == NULL)
     return FALSE;
 
   amt = section->reloc_count;
@@ -2945,15 +2937,11 @@ _bfd_ecoff_slurp_armap (bfd *abfd)
   parsed_size = mapdata->parsed_size;
   free (mapdata);
 
-  raw_armap = (char *) bfd_alloc (abfd, parsed_size);
+  raw_armap = (char *) _bfd_alloc_and_read (abfd, parsed_size, parsed_size);
   if (raw_armap == NULL)
-    return FALSE;
-
-  if (bfd_bread ((void *) raw_armap, parsed_size, abfd) != parsed_size)
     {
       if (bfd_get_error () != bfd_error_system_call)
 	bfd_set_error (bfd_error_malformed_archive);
-      bfd_release (abfd, (void *) raw_armap);
       return FALSE;
     }
 
@@ -3503,25 +3491,21 @@ ecoff_link_add_object_symbols (bfd *abfd, struct bfd_link_info *info)
   symhdr = &ecoff_data (abfd)->debug_info.symbolic_header;
 
   /* Read in the external symbols and external strings.  */
+  if (bfd_seek (abfd, symhdr->cbExtOffset, SEEK_SET) != 0)
+    return FALSE;
   external_ext_size = ecoff_backend (abfd)->debug_swap.external_ext_size;
   esize = symhdr->iextMax * external_ext_size;
-  external_ext = bfd_malloc (esize);
+  external_ext = _bfd_malloc_and_read (abfd, esize, esize);
   if (external_ext == NULL && esize != 0)
     goto error_return;
 
-  if (bfd_seek (abfd, (file_ptr) symhdr->cbExtOffset, SEEK_SET) != 0
-      || bfd_bread (external_ext, esize, abfd) != esize)
+  if (bfd_seek (abfd, symhdr->cbSsExtOffset, SEEK_SET) != 0)
     goto error_return;
-
-  ssext = (char *) bfd_malloc ((bfd_size_type) symhdr->issExtMax);
+  ssext = (char *) _bfd_malloc_and_read (abfd, symhdr->issExtMax,
+					 symhdr->issExtMax);
   if (ssext == NULL && symhdr->issExtMax != 0)
     goto error_return;
 
-  if (bfd_seek (abfd, (file_ptr) symhdr->cbSsExtOffset, SEEK_SET) != 0
-      || (bfd_bread (ssext, (bfd_size_type) symhdr->issExtMax, abfd)
-	  != (bfd_size_type) symhdr->issExtMax))
-    goto error_return;
-
   result = ecoff_link_add_externals (abfd, info, external_ext, ssext);
 
   if (ssext != NULL)
@@ -3775,14 +3759,13 @@ ecoff_final_link_debug_accumulate (bfd *output_bfd,
 	  ret = FALSE;							\
 	  goto return_something;					\
 	}								\
-      debug->ptr = (type) bfd_malloc (amt);				\
-      if (debug->ptr == NULL)						\
+      if (bfd_seek (input_bfd, symhdr->offset, SEEK_SET) != 0)		\
 	{								\
 	  ret = FALSE;							\
 	  goto return_something;					\
 	}								\
-      if (bfd_seek (input_bfd, symhdr->offset, SEEK_SET) != 0		\
-	  || bfd_bread (debug->ptr, amt, input_bfd) != amt)		\
+      debug->ptr = (type) _bfd_malloc_and_read (input_bfd, amt, amt);	\
+      if (debug->ptr == NULL)						\
 	{								\
 	  ret = FALSE;							\
 	  goto return_something;					\
@@ -3887,13 +3870,11 @@ ecoff_indirect_link_order (bfd *output_bfd,
   external_reloc_size = ecoff_backend (input_bfd)->external_reloc_size;
   external_relocs_size = external_reloc_size * input_section->reloc_count;
 
-  external_relocs = bfd_malloc (external_relocs_size);
-  if (external_relocs == NULL && external_relocs_size != 0)
+  if (bfd_seek (input_bfd, input_section->rel_filepos, SEEK_SET) != 0)
     goto error_return;
-
-  if (bfd_seek (input_bfd, input_section->rel_filepos, SEEK_SET) != 0
-      || (bfd_bread (external_relocs, external_relocs_size, input_bfd)
-	  != external_relocs_size))
+  external_relocs = _bfd_malloc_and_read (input_bfd, external_relocs_size,
+					  external_relocs_size);
+  if (external_relocs == NULL && external_relocs_size != 0)
     goto error_return;
 
   /* Relocate the section contents.  */
diff --git a/bfd/elf.c b/bfd/elf.c
index a3af7ef2af7..7eb717b7ffa 100644
--- a/bfd/elf.c
+++ b/bfd/elf.c
@@ -298,14 +298,9 @@ bfd_elf_get_str_section (bfd *abfd, unsigned int shindex)
       if (shstrtabsize + 1 <= 1
 	  || shstrtabsize > bfd_get_file_size (abfd)
 	  || bfd_seek (abfd, offset, SEEK_SET) != 0
-	  || (shstrtab = (bfd_byte *) bfd_alloc (abfd, shstrtabsize + 1)) == NULL)
-	shstrtab = NULL;
-      else if (bfd_bread (shstrtab, shstrtabsize, abfd) != shstrtabsize)
-	{
-	  if (bfd_get_error () != bfd_error_system_call)
-	    bfd_set_error (bfd_error_file_truncated);
-	  bfd_release (abfd, shstrtab);
-	  shstrtab = NULL;
+	  || (shstrtab = _bfd_alloc_and_read (abfd, shstrtabsize + 1,
+					      shstrtabsize)) == NULL)
+	{
 	  /* Once we've failed to read it, make sure we don't keep
 	     trying.  Otherwise, we'll keep allocating space for
 	     the string table over and over.  */
@@ -675,10 +670,9 @@ setup_group (bfd *abfd, Elf_Internal_Shdr *hdr, asection *newsect)
 		  shdr->contents = NULL;
 		  if (_bfd_mul_overflow (shdr->sh_size,
 					 sizeof (*dest) / 4, &amt)
-		      || (shdr->contents = bfd_alloc (abfd, amt)) == NULL
 		      || bfd_seek (abfd, shdr->sh_offset, SEEK_SET) != 0
-		      || (bfd_bread (shdr->contents, shdr->sh_size, abfd)
-			  != shdr->sh_size))
+		      || !(shdr->contents
+			   = _bfd_alloc_and_read (abfd, amt, shdr->sh_size)))
 		    {
 		      _bfd_error_handler
 			/* xgettext:c-format */
@@ -687,14 +681,6 @@ setup_group (bfd *abfd, Elf_Internal_Shdr *hdr, asection *newsect)
 			 abfd, (uint64_t) shdr->sh_size);
 		      bfd_set_error (bfd_error_bad_value);
 		      -- num_group;
-		      /* PR 17510: If the group contents are even
-			 partially corrupt, do not allow any of the
-			 contents to be used.  */
-		      if (shdr->contents != NULL)
-			{
-			  bfd_release (abfd, shdr->contents);
-			  shdr->contents = NULL;
-			}
 		      continue;
 		    }
 
@@ -8612,12 +8598,11 @@ error_return_verref:
 	     abfd, (uint64_t) hdr->sh_size);
 	  goto error_return_verref;
 	}
-      contents = (bfd_byte *) bfd_malloc (hdr->sh_size);
-      if (contents == NULL)
-	goto error_return_verref;
 
-      if (bfd_seek (abfd, hdr->sh_offset, SEEK_SET) != 0
-	  || bfd_bread (contents, hdr->sh_size, abfd) != hdr->sh_size)
+      if (bfd_seek (abfd, hdr->sh_offset, SEEK_SET) != 0)
+	goto error_return_verref;
+      contents = _bfd_malloc_and_read (abfd, hdr->sh_size, hdr->sh_size);
+      if (contents == NULL)
 	goto error_return_verref;
 
       if (_bfd_mul_overflow (hdr->sh_info, sizeof (Elf_Internal_Verneed), &amt))
@@ -8747,11 +8732,10 @@ error_return_verref:
 	  goto error_return;
 	}
 
-      contents = (bfd_byte *) bfd_malloc (hdr->sh_size);
-      if (contents == NULL)
+      if (bfd_seek (abfd, hdr->sh_offset, SEEK_SET) != 0)
 	goto error_return_verdef;
-      if (bfd_seek (abfd, hdr->sh_offset, SEEK_SET) != 0
-	  || bfd_bread (contents, hdr->sh_size, abfd) != hdr->sh_size)
+      contents = _bfd_malloc_and_read (abfd, hdr->sh_size, hdr->sh_size);
+      if (contents == NULL)
 	goto error_return_verdef;
 
       BFD_ASSERT (sizeof (Elf_External_Verdef)
@@ -11937,7 +11921,7 @@ elf_read_notes (bfd *abfd, file_ptr offset, bfd_size_type size,
   if (bfd_seek (abfd, offset, SEEK_SET) != 0)
     return FALSE;
 
-  buf = (char *) bfd_malloc (size + 1);
+  buf = (char *) _bfd_malloc_and_read (abfd, size + 1, size);
   if (buf == NULL)
     return FALSE;
 
@@ -11945,8 +11929,7 @@ elf_read_notes (bfd *abfd, file_ptr offset, bfd_size_type size,
      0-termintate the buffer so that string searches will not overflow.  */
   buf[size] = 0;
 
-  if (bfd_bread (buf, size, abfd) != size
-      || !elf_parse_notes (abfd, buf, size, offset, align))
+  if (!elf_parse_notes (abfd, buf, size, offset, align))
     {
       free (buf);
       return FALSE;
diff --git a/bfd/elf32-m32c.c b/bfd/elf32-m32c.c
index a4dfd8d3d4e..a357f62b8c2 100644
--- a/bfd/elf32-m32c.c
+++ b/bfd/elf32-m32c.c
@@ -1499,11 +1499,10 @@ m32c_elf_relax_section
 	  bfd_set_error (bfd_error_file_too_big);
 	  goto error_return;
 	}
-      shndx_buf = bfd_malloc (amt);
-      if (shndx_buf == NULL)
+      if (bfd_seek (abfd, shndx_hdr->sh_offset, SEEK_SET) != 0)
 	goto error_return;
-      if (bfd_seek (abfd, shndx_hdr->sh_offset, SEEK_SET) != 0
-	  || bfd_bread (shndx_buf, amt, abfd) != amt)
+      shndx_buf = _bfd_malloc_and_read (abfd, amt, amt);
+      if (shndx_buf == NULL)
 	goto error_return;
       shndx_hdr->contents = shndx_buf;
     }
diff --git a/bfd/elf32-rl78.c b/bfd/elf32-rl78.c
index 40f8c5881b1..633350faec4 100644
--- a/bfd/elf32-rl78.c
+++ b/bfd/elf32-rl78.c
@@ -2129,11 +2129,10 @@ rl78_elf_relax_section
 	  bfd_set_error (bfd_error_no_memory);
 	  goto error_return;
 	}
-      shndx_buf = bfd_malloc (amt);
-      if (shndx_buf == NULL)
+      if (bfd_seek (abfd, shndx_hdr->sh_offset, SEEK_SET) != 0)
 	goto error_return;
-      if (bfd_seek (abfd, shndx_hdr->sh_offset, SEEK_SET) != 0
-	  || bfd_bread (shndx_buf, amt, abfd) != amt)
+      shndx_buf = _bfd_malloc_and_read (abfd, amt, amt);
+      if (shndx_buf == NULL)
 	goto error_return;
       shndx_hdr->contents = shndx_buf;
     }
diff --git a/bfd/elf32-rx.c b/bfd/elf32-rx.c
index 0a9900ff21b..bd08eb47d8a 100644
--- a/bfd/elf32-rx.c
+++ b/bfd/elf32-rx.c
@@ -2066,11 +2066,10 @@ elf32_rx_relax_section (bfd *		       abfd,
 	  bfd_set_error (bfd_error_file_too_big);
 	  goto error_return;
 	}
-      shndx_buf = bfd_malloc (amt);
-      if (shndx_buf == NULL)
+      if (bfd_seek (abfd, shndx_hdr->sh_offset, SEEK_SET) != 0)
 	goto error_return;
-      if (bfd_seek (abfd, shndx_hdr->sh_offset, SEEK_SET) != 0
-	  || bfd_bread (shndx_buf, amt, abfd) != amt)
+      shndx_buf = _bfd_malloc_and_read (abfd, amt, amt);
+      if (shndx_buf == NULL)
 	goto error_return;
       shndx_hdr->contents = shndx_buf;
     }
diff --git a/bfd/elf64-alpha.c b/bfd/elf64-alpha.c
index ae4be9f0746..ed18202b718 100644
--- a/bfd/elf64-alpha.c
+++ b/bfd/elf64-alpha.c
@@ -1398,11 +1398,10 @@ elf64_alpha_read_ecoff_info (bfd *abfd, asection *section,
 	  bfd_set_error (bfd_error_file_too_big);			\
 	  goto error_return;						\
 	}								\
-      debug->ptr = (type) bfd_malloc (amt);				\
-      if (debug->ptr == NULL)						\
+      if (bfd_seek (abfd, symhdr->offset, SEEK_SET) != 0)		\
 	goto error_return;						\
-      if (bfd_seek (abfd, (file_ptr) symhdr->offset, SEEK_SET) != 0	\
-	  || bfd_bread (debug->ptr, amt, abfd) != amt)			\
+      debug->ptr = (type) _bfd_malloc_and_read (abfd, amt, amt);	\
+      if (debug->ptr == NULL)						\
 	goto error_return;						\
     } while (0)
 
diff --git a/bfd/elf64-mips.c b/bfd/elf64-mips.c
index b674d52f7c6..413018fcf3e 100644
--- a/bfd/elf64-mips.c
+++ b/bfd/elf64-mips.c
@@ -4010,15 +4010,12 @@ mips_elf64_slurp_one_reloc_table (bfd *abfd, asection *asect,
   int entsize;
   bfd_boolean rela_p;
 
-  allocated = bfd_malloc (rel_hdr->sh_size);
+  if (bfd_seek (abfd, rel_hdr->sh_offset, SEEK_SET) != 0)
+    return FALSE;
+  allocated = _bfd_malloc_and_read (abfd, rel_hdr->sh_size, rel_hdr->sh_size);
   if (allocated == NULL)
     return FALSE;
 
-  if (bfd_seek (abfd, rel_hdr->sh_offset, SEEK_SET) != 0
-      || (bfd_bread (allocated, rel_hdr->sh_size, abfd)
-	  != rel_hdr->sh_size))
-    goto error_return;
-
   native_relocs = allocated;
 
   entsize = rel_hdr->sh_entsize;
diff --git a/bfd/elf64-sparc.c b/bfd/elf64-sparc.c
index 4addaf052a2..f07c06222ad 100644
--- a/bfd/elf64-sparc.c
+++ b/bfd/elf64-sparc.c
@@ -79,13 +79,11 @@ elf64_sparc_slurp_one_reloc_table (bfd *abfd, asection *asect,
   bfd_size_type count;
   arelent *relents;
 
-  allocated = bfd_malloc (rel_hdr->sh_size);
+  if (bfd_seek (abfd, rel_hdr->sh_offset, SEEK_SET) != 0)
+    return FALSE;
+  allocated = _bfd_malloc_and_read (abfd, rel_hdr->sh_size, rel_hdr->sh_size);
   if (allocated == NULL)
-    goto error_return;
-
-  if (bfd_seek (abfd, rel_hdr->sh_offset, SEEK_SET) != 0
-      || bfd_bread (allocated, rel_hdr->sh_size, abfd) != rel_hdr->sh_size)
-    goto error_return;
+    return FALSE;
 
   native_relocs = (bfd_byte *) allocated;
 
diff --git a/bfd/elfcode.h b/bfd/elfcode.h
index e7dfdee95e9..1b2d68ab204 100644
--- a/bfd/elfcode.h
+++ b/bfd/elfcode.h
@@ -1234,13 +1234,10 @@ elf_slurp_symbol_table (bfd *abfd, asymbol **symptrs, bfd_boolean dynamic)
 	{
 	  if (bfd_seek (abfd, verhdr->sh_offset, SEEK_SET) != 0)
 	    goto error_return;
-
-	  xverbuf = (Elf_External_Versym *) bfd_malloc (verhdr->sh_size);
+	  xverbuf = (Elf_External_Versym *)
+	    _bfd_malloc_and_read (abfd, verhdr->sh_size, verhdr->sh_size);
 	  if (xverbuf == NULL && verhdr->sh_size != 0)
 	    goto error_return;
-
-	  if (bfd_bread (xverbuf, verhdr->sh_size, abfd) != verhdr->sh_size)
-	    goto error_return;
 	}
 
       /* Skip first symbol, which is a null dummy.  */
@@ -1429,14 +1426,11 @@ elf_slurp_reloc_table_from_section (bfd *abfd,
   int entsize;
   unsigned int symcount;
 
-  allocated = bfd_malloc (rel_hdr->sh_size);
+  if (bfd_seek (abfd, rel_hdr->sh_offset, SEEK_SET) != 0)
+    return FALSE;
+  allocated = _bfd_malloc_and_read (abfd, rel_hdr->sh_size, rel_hdr->sh_size);
   if (allocated == NULL)
-    goto error_return;
-
-  if (bfd_seek (abfd, rel_hdr->sh_offset, SEEK_SET) != 0
-      || (bfd_bread (allocated, rel_hdr->sh_size, abfd)
-	  != rel_hdr->sh_size))
-    goto error_return;
+    return FALSE;
 
   native_relocs = (bfd_byte *) allocated;
 
diff --git a/bfd/elflink.c b/bfd/elflink.c
index 1656978e07e..8e7ae2a160d 100644
--- a/bfd/elflink.c
+++ b/bfd/elflink.c
@@ -4332,12 +4332,12 @@ error_free_dyn:
 	  Elf_Internal_Shdr *versymhdr = &elf_tdata (abfd)->dynversym_hdr;
 	  bfd_size_type amt = versymhdr->sh_size;
 
-	  extversym = (Elf_External_Versym *) bfd_malloc (amt);
+	  if (bfd_seek (abfd, versymhdr->sh_offset, SEEK_SET) != 0)
+	    goto error_free_sym;
+	  extversym = (Elf_External_Versym *)
+	    _bfd_malloc_and_read (abfd, amt, amt);
 	  if (extversym == NULL)
 	    goto error_free_sym;
-	  if (bfd_seek (abfd, versymhdr->sh_offset, SEEK_SET) != 0
-	      || bfd_bread (extversym, amt, abfd) != amt)
-	    goto error_free_vers;
 	  extversym_end = extversym + amt / sizeof (*extversym);
 	}
     }
@@ -9737,16 +9737,11 @@ elf_link_check_versioned_symbol (struct bfd_link_info *info,
 
       /* Read in any version definitions.  */
       versymhdr = &elf_tdata (input)->dynversym_hdr;
-      extversym = (Elf_External_Versym *) bfd_malloc (versymhdr->sh_size);
-      if (extversym == NULL)
-	goto error_ret;
-
       if (bfd_seek (input, versymhdr->sh_offset, SEEK_SET) != 0
-	  || (bfd_bread (extversym, versymhdr->sh_size, input)
-	      != versymhdr->sh_size))
+	  || (extversym = (Elf_External_Versym *)
+	      _bfd_malloc_and_read (input, versymhdr->sh_size,
+				    versymhdr->sh_size)) == NULL)
 	{
-	  free (extversym);
-	error_ret:
 	  free (isymbuf);
 	  return FALSE;
 	}
diff --git a/bfd/elfxx-mips.c b/bfd/elfxx-mips.c
index 81ed9b390a0..81af3ef33e5 100644
--- a/bfd/elfxx-mips.c
+++ b/bfd/elfxx-mips.c
@@ -1424,11 +1424,10 @@ _bfd_mips_elf_read_ecoff_info (bfd *abfd, asection *section,
 	  bfd_set_error (bfd_error_file_too_big);			\
 	  goto error_return;						\
 	}								\
-      debug->ptr = bfd_malloc (amt);					\
-      if (debug->ptr == NULL)						\
+      if (bfd_seek (abfd, symhdr->offset, SEEK_SET) != 0)		\
 	goto error_return;						\
-      if (bfd_seek (abfd, symhdr->offset, SEEK_SET) != 0		\
-	  || bfd_bread (debug->ptr, amt, abfd) != amt)			\
+      debug->ptr = (type) _bfd_malloc_and_read (abfd, amt, amt);	\
+      if (debug->ptr == NULL)						\
 	goto error_return;						\
     } while (0)
 
diff --git a/bfd/i386lynx.c b/bfd/i386lynx.c
index 777fd3d72eb..a4d7cd3228b 100644
--- a/bfd/i386lynx.c
+++ b/bfd/i386lynx.c
@@ -411,20 +411,13 @@ doit:
   if (!reloc_cache && count != 0)
     return FALSE;
 
-  relocs = bfd_alloc (abfd, reloc_size);
+  relocs = _bfd_alloc_and_read (abfd, reloc_size, reloc_size);
   if (!relocs && reloc_size != 0)
     {
       free (reloc_cache);
       return FALSE;
     }
 
-  if (bfd_bread (relocs, reloc_size, abfd) != reloc_size)
-    {
-      bfd_release (abfd, relocs);
-      free (reloc_cache);
-      return FALSE;
-    }
-
   if (each_size == RELOC_EXT_SIZE)
     {
       struct reloc_ext_external *rptr = (struct reloc_ext_external *) relocs;
diff --git a/bfd/libbfd-in.h b/bfd/libbfd-in.h
index 00650c3c86d..a8f9bcd47d3 100644
--- a/bfd/libbfd-in.h
+++ b/bfd/libbfd-in.h
@@ -903,3 +903,29 @@ extern bfd_vma _bfd_safe_read_leb128
 #define _bfd_mul_overflow(a, b, res) \
   ((*res) = (a), (*res) *= (b), (b) != 0 && (*res) / (b) != (a))
 #endif
+
+static inline bfd_byte *
+_bfd_alloc_and_read (bfd *abfd, bfd_size_type asize, bfd_size_type rsize)
+{
+  bfd_byte *mem = bfd_alloc (abfd, asize);
+  if (mem != NULL)
+    {
+      if (bfd_bread (mem, rsize, abfd) == rsize)
+	return mem;
+      bfd_release (abfd, mem);
+    }
+  return NULL;
+}
+
+static inline bfd_byte *
+_bfd_malloc_and_read (bfd *abfd, bfd_size_type asize, bfd_size_type rsize)
+{
+  bfd_byte *mem = bfd_malloc (asize);
+  if (mem != NULL)
+    {
+      if (bfd_bread (mem, rsize, abfd) == rsize)
+	return mem;
+      free (mem);
+    }
+  return NULL;
+}
diff --git a/bfd/libbfd.h b/bfd/libbfd.h
index 7fcd46a38a3..77c66309a25 100644
--- a/bfd/libbfd.h
+++ b/bfd/libbfd.h
@@ -908,6 +908,32 @@ extern bfd_vma _bfd_safe_read_leb128
 #define _bfd_mul_overflow(a, b, res) \
   ((*res) = (a), (*res) *= (b), (b) != 0 && (*res) / (b) != (a))
 #endif
+
+static inline bfd_byte *
+_bfd_alloc_and_read (bfd *abfd, bfd_size_type asize, bfd_size_type rsize)
+{
+  bfd_byte *mem = bfd_alloc (abfd, asize);
+  if (mem != NULL)
+    {
+      if (bfd_bread (mem, rsize, abfd) == rsize)
+	return mem;
+      bfd_release (abfd, mem);
+    }
+  return NULL;
+}
+
+static inline bfd_byte *
+_bfd_malloc_and_read (bfd *abfd, bfd_size_type asize, bfd_size_type rsize)
+{
+  bfd_byte *mem = bfd_malloc (asize);
+  if (mem != NULL)
+    {
+      if (bfd_bread (mem, rsize, abfd) == rsize)
+	return mem;
+      free (mem);
+    }
+  return NULL;
+}
 /* Extracted from libbfd.c.  */
 bfd_boolean bfd_write_bigendian_4byte_int (bfd *, unsigned int);
 
diff --git a/bfd/lynx-core.c b/bfd/lynx-core.c
index ef47c8359c7..66b54a2fd27 100644
--- a/bfd/lynx-core.c
+++ b/bfd/lynx-core.c
@@ -126,24 +126,13 @@ lynx_core_file_p (bfd *abfd)
 
   tcontext_size = pss.threadcnt * sizeof (core_st_t);
 
-  /* Allocate space for the thread contexts */
-
-  threadp = (core_st_t *) bfd_alloc (abfd, tcontext_size);
-  if (!threadp)
-    goto fail;
-
   /* Save thread contexts */
-
-  if (bfd_seek (abfd, (file_ptr) pagesize, SEEK_SET) != 0)
+  if (bfd_seek (abfd, pagesize, SEEK_SET) != 0)
+    goto fail;
+  threadp = (core_st_t *) _bfd_alloc_and_read (abfd, tcontext_size,
+					       tcontext_size);
+  if (!threadp)
     goto fail;
-
-  if (bfd_bread ((void *) threadp, tcontext_size, abfd) != tcontext_size)
-    {
-      /* Probably too small to be a core file */
-      if (bfd_get_error () != bfd_error_system_call)
-	bfd_set_error (bfd_error_wrong_format);
-      goto fail;
-    }
 
   core_signal (abfd) = threadp->currsig;
 
diff --git a/bfd/mach-o.c b/bfd/mach-o.c
index fd9f480245c..887dfc76ce6 100644
--- a/bfd/mach-o.c
+++ b/bfd/mach-o.c
@@ -1623,15 +1623,13 @@ bfd_mach_o_canonicalize_relocs (bfd *abfd, unsigned long filepos,
   if (native_size < count)
     goto err;
 
-  native_relocs =
-    (struct mach_o_reloc_info_external *) bfd_malloc (native_size);
+  if (bfd_seek (abfd, filepos, SEEK_SET) != 0)
+    return -1;
+  native_relocs = (struct mach_o_reloc_info_external *)
+    _bfd_malloc_and_read (abfd, native_size, native_size);
   if (native_relocs == NULL)
     return -1;
 
-  if (bfd_seek (abfd, filepos, SEEK_SET) != 0
-      || bfd_bread (native_relocs, native_size, abfd) != native_size)
-    goto err;
-
   for (i = 0; i < count; i++)
     {
       if (!(*bed->_bfd_mach_o_canonicalize_one_reloc)(abfd, &native_relocs[i],
@@ -3902,19 +3900,13 @@ bfd_mach_o_read_symtab_strtab (bfd *abfd)
       /* See PR 21840 for a reproducer.  */
       if ((sym->strsize + 1) == 0)
 	return FALSE;
-      sym->strtab = bfd_alloc (abfd, sym->strsize + 1);
+      if (bfd_seek (abfd, sym->stroff, SEEK_SET) != 0)
+	return FALSE;
+      sym->strtab = (char *) _bfd_alloc_and_read (abfd, sym->strsize + 1,
+						  sym->strsize);
       if (sym->strtab == NULL)
 	return FALSE;
 
-      if (bfd_seek (abfd, sym->stroff, SEEK_SET) != 0
-	  || bfd_bread (sym->strtab, sym->strsize, abfd) != sym->strsize)
-	{
-	  /* PR 17512: file: 10888-1609-0.004.  */
-	  bfd_release (abfd, sym->strtab);
-	  sym->strtab = NULL;
-	  bfd_set_error (bfd_error_file_truncated);
-	  return FALSE;
-	}
       /* Zero terminate the string table.  */
       sym->strtab[sym->strsize] = 0;
     }
@@ -4000,15 +3992,9 @@ bfd_mach_o_ppc_flavour_string (unsigned int flavour)
 static unsigned char *
 bfd_mach_o_alloc_and_read (bfd *abfd, file_ptr filepos, size_t size)
 {
-  unsigned char *buf;
-
-  buf = bfd_alloc (abfd, size);
-  if (buf == NULL)
+  if (bfd_seek (abfd, filepos, SEEK_SET) != 0)
     return NULL;
-  if (bfd_seek (abfd, filepos, SEEK_SET) != 0
-      || bfd_bread (buf, size, abfd) != size)
-    return NULL;
-  return buf;
+  return _bfd_alloc_and_read (abfd, size, size);
 }
 
 static bfd_boolean
@@ -4100,11 +4086,9 @@ bfd_mach_o_read_prebound_dylib (bfd *abfd,
     return FALSE;
 
   str_len = command->len - sizeof (raw);
-  str = bfd_alloc (abfd, str_len);
+  str = _bfd_alloc_and_read (abfd, str_len, str_len);
   if (str == NULL)
     return FALSE;
-  if (bfd_bread (str, str_len, abfd) != str_len)
-    return FALSE;
 
   cmd->name_offset = command->offset + nameoff;
   cmd->nmodules = bfd_h_get_32 (abfd, raw.nmodules);
@@ -4581,8 +4565,8 @@ bfd_mach_o_read_dyld_content (bfd *abfd, bfd_mach_o_dyld_info_command *cmd)
   /* Read rebase content.  */
   if (cmd->rebase_content == NULL && cmd->rebase_size != 0)
     {
-      cmd->rebase_content =
-	bfd_mach_o_alloc_and_read (abfd, cmd->rebase_off, cmd->rebase_size);
+      cmd->rebase_content
+	= bfd_mach_o_alloc_and_read (abfd, cmd->rebase_off, cmd->rebase_size);
       if (cmd->rebase_content == NULL)
 	return FALSE;
     }
@@ -4590,8 +4574,8 @@ bfd_mach_o_read_dyld_content (bfd *abfd, bfd_mach_o_dyld_info_command *cmd)
   /* Read bind content.  */
   if (cmd->bind_content == NULL && cmd->bind_size != 0)
     {
-      cmd->bind_content =
-	bfd_mach_o_alloc_and_read (abfd, cmd->bind_off, cmd->bind_size);
+      cmd->bind_content
+	= bfd_mach_o_alloc_and_read (abfd, cmd->bind_off, cmd->bind_size);
       if (cmd->bind_content == NULL)
 	return FALSE;
     }
diff --git a/bfd/pdp11.c b/bfd/pdp11.c
index cd14e87b962..35aefa34047 100644
--- a/bfd/pdp11.c
+++ b/bfd/pdp11.c
@@ -1182,17 +1182,13 @@ aout_get_external_symbols (bfd *abfd)
       /* We allocate using malloc to make the values easy to free
 	 later on.  If we put them on the objalloc it might not be
 	 possible to free them.  */
-      syms = bfd_malloc (count * EXTERNAL_NLIST_SIZE);
+      if (bfd_seek (abfd, obj_sym_filepos (abfd), SEEK_SET) != 0)
+	return FALSE;
+      syms = (struct external_nlist *)
+	_bfd_malloc_and_read (abfd, count * EXTERNAL_NLIST_SIZE,
+			      count * EXTERNAL_NLIST_SIZE);
       if (syms == NULL && count != 0)
 	return FALSE;
-
-      if (bfd_seek (abfd, obj_sym_filepos (abfd), SEEK_SET) != 0
-	  || (bfd_bread (syms, exec_hdr (abfd)->a_syms, abfd)
-	      != exec_hdr (abfd)->a_syms))
-	{
-	  free (syms);
-	  return FALSE;
-	}
 #endif
 
       obj_aout_external_syms (abfd) = syms;
@@ -1829,19 +1825,11 @@ NAME (aout, slurp_reloc_table) (bfd *abfd, sec_ptr asect, asymbol **symbols)
 
   if (bfd_seek (abfd, asect->rel_filepos, SEEK_SET) != 0)
     return FALSE;
-
-  each_size = obj_reloc_entry_size (abfd);
-
-  relocs = bfd_malloc (reloc_size);
+  relocs = _bfd_malloc_and_read (abfd, reloc_size, reloc_size);
   if (relocs == NULL && reloc_size != 0)
     return FALSE;
 
-  if (bfd_bread (relocs, reloc_size, abfd) != reloc_size)
-    {
-      free (relocs);
-      return FALSE;
-    }
-
+  each_size = obj_reloc_entry_size (abfd);
   count = reloc_size / each_size;
 
   /* Count the number of NON-ZERO relocs, this is the count we want.  */
diff --git a/bfd/pef.c b/bfd/pef.c
index 574d9bcb5d6..b0f6c2d2a7c 100644
--- a/bfd/pef.c
+++ b/bfd/pef.c
@@ -446,14 +446,15 @@ bfd_pef_print_loader_section (bfd *abfd, FILE *file)
     return -1;
 
   loaderlen = loadersec->size;
-  loaderbuf = bfd_malloc (loaderlen);
+  if (loaderlen < 56)
+    return -1;
+  if (bfd_seek (abfd, loadersec->filepos, SEEK_SET) != 0)
+    return -1;
+  loaderbuf = _bfd_malloc_and_read (abfd, loaderlen, loaderlen);
   if (loaderbuf == NULL)
     return -1;
 
-  if (bfd_seek (abfd, loadersec->filepos, SEEK_SET) < 0
-      || bfd_bread ((void *) loaderbuf, loaderlen, abfd) != loaderlen
-      || loaderlen < 56
-      || bfd_pef_parse_loader_header (abfd, loaderbuf, 56, &header) < 0)
+  if (bfd_pef_parse_loader_header (abfd, loaderbuf, 56, &header) < 0)
     {
       free (loaderbuf);
       return -1;
@@ -479,17 +480,14 @@ bfd_pef_scan_start_address (bfd *abfd)
     goto end;
 
   loaderlen = loadersec->size;
-  loaderbuf = bfd_malloc (loaderlen);
-  if (loaderbuf == NULL)
-    goto end;
-
-  if (bfd_seek (abfd, loadersec->filepos, SEEK_SET) < 0)
+  if (loaderlen < 56)
     goto error;
-  if (bfd_bread ((void *) loaderbuf, loaderlen, abfd) != loaderlen)
+  if (bfd_seek (abfd, loadersec->filepos, SEEK_SET) != 0)
     goto error;
-
-  if (loaderlen < 56)
+  loaderbuf = _bfd_malloc_and_read (abfd, loaderlen, loaderlen);
+  if (loaderbuf == NULL)
     goto error;
+
   ret = bfd_pef_parse_loader_header (abfd, loaderbuf, 56, &header);
   if (ret < 0)
     goto error;
@@ -903,12 +901,10 @@ bfd_pef_parse_symbols (bfd *abfd, asymbol **csym)
   if (codesec != NULL)
     {
       codelen = codesec->size;
-      codebuf = bfd_malloc (codelen);
-      if (codebuf == NULL)
-	goto end;
-      if (bfd_seek (abfd, codesec->filepos, SEEK_SET) < 0)
+      if (bfd_seek (abfd, codesec->filepos, SEEK_SET) != 0)
 	goto end;
-      if (bfd_bread ((void *) codebuf, codelen, abfd) != codelen)
+      codebuf = _bfd_malloc_and_read (abfd, codelen, codelen);
+      if (codebuf == NULL)
 	goto end;
     }
 
@@ -916,12 +912,10 @@ bfd_pef_parse_symbols (bfd *abfd, asymbol **csym)
   if (loadersec != NULL)
     {
       loaderlen = loadersec->size;
-      loaderbuf = bfd_malloc (loaderlen);
-      if (loaderbuf == NULL)
+      if (bfd_seek (abfd, loadersec->filepos, SEEK_SET) != 0)
 	goto end;
-      if (bfd_seek (abfd, loadersec->filepos, SEEK_SET) < 0)
-	goto end;
-      if (bfd_bread ((void *) loaderbuf, loaderlen, abfd) != loaderlen)
+      loaderbuf = _bfd_malloc_and_read (abfd, loaderlen, loaderlen);
+      if (loaderbuf == NULL)
 	goto end;
     }
 
diff --git a/bfd/peicode.h b/bfd/peicode.h
index 3f772a0785a..f569ccf3893 100644
--- a/bfd/peicode.h
+++ b/bfd/peicode.h
@@ -1273,16 +1273,10 @@ pe_ILF_object_p (bfd * abfd)
   /* ptr += 2; */
 
   /* Now read in the two strings that follow.  */
-  ptr = (bfd_byte *) bfd_alloc (abfd, size);
+  ptr = (bfd_byte *) _bfd_alloc_and_read (abfd, size, size);
   if (ptr == NULL)
     return NULL;
 
-  if (bfd_bread (ptr, size, abfd) != size)
-    {
-      bfd_release (abfd, ptr);
-      return NULL;
-    }
-
   symbol_name = (char *) ptr;
   /* See PR 20905 for an example of where the strnlen is necessary.  */
   source_dll  = symbol_name + strnlen (symbol_name, size - 1) + 1;
@@ -1494,12 +1488,9 @@ pe_bfd_object_p (bfd * abfd)
       if (amt < sizeof (PEAOUTHDR))
 	amt = sizeof (PEAOUTHDR);
 
-      opthdr = bfd_alloc (abfd, amt);
+      opthdr = _bfd_alloc_and_read (abfd, amt, opt_hdr_size);
       if (opthdr == NULL)
 	return NULL;
-      if (bfd_bread (opthdr, opt_hdr_size, abfd)
-	  != (bfd_size_type) opt_hdr_size)
-	return NULL;
       if (amt > opt_hdr_size)
 	memset (opthdr + opt_hdr_size, 0, amt - opt_hdr_size);
 
diff --git a/bfd/som.c b/bfd/som.c
index bd685920ba7..9f37b10f96c 100644
--- a/bfd/som.c
+++ b/bfd/som.c
@@ -2088,14 +2088,11 @@ setup_sections (bfd *abfd,
       bfd_set_error (bfd_error_no_memory);
       goto error_return;
     }
-  space_strings = bfd_malloc (amt + 1);
-  if (space_strings == NULL)
-    goto error_return;
-
   if (bfd_seek (abfd, current_offset + file_hdr->space_strings_location,
 		SEEK_SET) != 0)
     goto error_return;
-  if (bfd_bread (space_strings, amt, abfd) != amt)
+  space_strings = (char *) _bfd_malloc_and_read (abfd, amt + 1, amt);
+  if (space_strings == NULL)
     goto error_return;
   /* Make sure that the string table is NUL terminated.  */
   space_strings[amt] = 0;
@@ -4578,15 +4575,11 @@ som_slurp_string_table (bfd *abfd)
     }
 
   /* Allocate and read in the string table.  */
-  amt = obj_som_stringtab_size (abfd);
-  stringtab = bfd_zmalloc (amt);
-  if (stringtab == NULL)
-    return FALSE;
-
   if (bfd_seek (abfd, obj_som_str_filepos (abfd), SEEK_SET) != 0)
     return FALSE;
-
-  if (bfd_bread (stringtab, amt, abfd) != amt)
+  amt = obj_som_stringtab_size (abfd);
+  stringtab = (char *) _bfd_malloc_and_read (abfd, amt, amt);
+  if (stringtab == NULL)
     return FALSE;
 
   /* Save our results and return success.  */
@@ -4681,12 +4674,11 @@ som_slurp_symbol_table (bfd *abfd)
       bfd_set_error (bfd_error_file_too_big);
       goto error_return;
     }
-  buf = bfd_malloc (amt);
-  if (buf == NULL)
-    goto error_return;
   if (bfd_seek (abfd, obj_som_sym_filepos (abfd), SEEK_SET) != 0)
     goto error_return;
-  if (bfd_bread (buf, amt, abfd) != amt)
+  buf = (struct som_external_symbol_dictionary_record *)
+    _bfd_malloc_and_read (abfd, amt, amt);
+  if (buf == NULL)
     goto error_return;
 
   if (_bfd_mul_overflow (symbol_count, sizeof (som_symbol_type), &amt))
@@ -5297,17 +5289,13 @@ som_slurp_reloc_table (bfd *abfd,
      parsed.  We must do so now to know how many relocations exist.  */
   if (section->reloc_count == (unsigned) -1)
     {
-      amt = fixup_stream_size;
-      external_relocs = bfd_malloc (amt);
-      if (external_relocs == NULL)
-	return FALSE;
       /* Read in the external forms.  */
-      if (bfd_seek (abfd,
-		    obj_som_reloc_filepos (abfd) + section->rel_filepos,
-		    SEEK_SET)
-	  != 0)
+      if (bfd_seek (abfd, obj_som_reloc_filepos (abfd) + section->rel_filepos,
+		    SEEK_SET) != 0)
 	return FALSE;
-      if (bfd_bread (external_relocs, amt, abfd) != amt)
+      amt = fixup_stream_size;
+      external_relocs = _bfd_malloc_and_read (abfd, amt, amt);
+      if (external_relocs == NULL)
 	return FALSE;
 
       /* Let callers know how many relocations found.
@@ -5921,23 +5909,20 @@ som_bfd_count_ar_symbols (bfd *abfd,
 
   lst_filepos = bfd_tell (abfd) - sizeof (struct som_external_lst_header);
 
+  /* Read in the hash table.  The hash table is an array of 32-bit
+     file offsets which point to the hash chains.  */
   if (_bfd_mul_overflow (lst_header->hash_size, 4, &amt))
     {
       bfd_set_error (bfd_error_file_too_big);
       return FALSE;
     }
-  hash_table = bfd_malloc (amt);
+  hash_table = _bfd_malloc_and_read (abfd, amt, amt);
   if (hash_table == NULL && lst_header->hash_size != 0)
     goto error_return;
 
   /* Don't forget to initialize the counter!  */
   *count = 0;
 
-  /* Read in the hash table.  The hash table is an array of 32-bit
-     file offsets which point to the hash chains.  */
-  if (bfd_bread ((void *) hash_table, amt, abfd) != amt)
-    goto error_return;
-
   /* Walk each chain counting the number of symbols found on that particular
      chain.  */
   for (i = 0; i < lst_header->hash_size; i++)
@@ -6016,20 +6001,18 @@ som_bfd_fill_in_ar_symbols (bfd *abfd,
   unsigned int string_loc;
 
   lst_filepos = bfd_tell (abfd) - sizeof (struct som_external_lst_header);
+
+  /* Read in the hash table.  The has table is an array of 32bit file offsets
+     which point to the hash chains.  */
   if (_bfd_mul_overflow (lst_header->hash_size, 4, &amt))
     {
       bfd_set_error (bfd_error_file_too_big);
       return FALSE;
     }
-  hash_table = bfd_malloc (amt);
+  hash_table = _bfd_malloc_and_read (abfd, amt, amt);
   if (hash_table == NULL && lst_header->hash_size != 0)
     goto error_return;
 
-  /* Read in the hash table.  The has table is an array of 32bit file offsets
-     which point to the hash chains.  */
-  if (bfd_bread ((void *) hash_table, amt, abfd) != amt)
-    goto error_return;
-
   /* Seek to and read in the SOM dictionary.  We will need this to fill
      in the carsym's filepos field.  */
   if (bfd_seek (abfd, lst_filepos + lst_header->dir_loc, SEEK_SET) != 0)
@@ -6041,13 +6024,11 @@ som_bfd_fill_in_ar_symbols (bfd *abfd,
       bfd_set_error (bfd_error_file_too_big);
       goto error_return;
     }
-  som_dict = bfd_malloc (amt);
+  som_dict = (struct som_external_som_entry *)
+    _bfd_malloc_and_read (abfd, amt, amt);
   if (som_dict == NULL && lst_header->module_count != 0)
     goto error_return;
 
-  if (bfd_bread ((void *) som_dict, amt, abfd) != amt)
-    goto error_return;
-
   string_loc = lst_header->string_loc;
 
   /* Walk each chain filling in the carsyms as we go along.  */
@@ -6094,12 +6075,9 @@ som_bfd_fill_in_ar_symbols (bfd *abfd,
 	  bfd_set_error (bfd_error_no_memory);
 	  goto error_return;
 	}
-      name = bfd_zalloc (abfd, (bfd_size_type) len + 1);
+      name = (char *) _bfd_alloc_and_read (abfd, len + 1, len);
       if (!name)
 	goto error_return;
-      if (bfd_bread (name, (bfd_size_type) len, abfd) != len)
-	goto error_return;
-
       name[len] = 0;
       set->name = name;
 
@@ -6148,12 +6126,9 @@ som_bfd_fill_in_ar_symbols (bfd *abfd,
 	      bfd_set_error (bfd_error_no_memory);
 	      goto error_return;
 	    }
-	  name = bfd_zalloc (abfd, (bfd_size_type) len + 1);
+	  name = (char *) _bfd_alloc_and_read (abfd, len + 1, len);
 	  if (!name)
 	    goto error_return;
-
-	  if (bfd_bread (name, (bfd_size_type) len, abfd) != len)
-	    goto error_return;
 	  name[len] = 0;
 	  set->name = name;
 
diff --git a/bfd/vms-alpha.c b/bfd/vms-alpha.c
index 24842780b6d..5be475a53f3 100644
--- a/bfd/vms-alpha.c
+++ b/bfd/vms-alpha.c
@@ -4822,10 +4822,10 @@ module_find_nearest_line (bfd *abfd, struct module *module, bfd_vma addr,
     {
       unsigned int size = module->size;
       unsigned int modbeg = PRIV (dst_section)->filepos + module->modbeg;
-      unsigned char *buffer = (unsigned char *) bfd_malloc (module->size);
+      unsigned char *buffer;
 
       if (bfd_seek (abfd, modbeg, SEEK_SET) != 0
-	  || bfd_bread (buffer, size, abfd) != size)
+	  || (buffer = _bfd_malloc_and_read (abfd, size, size)) == NULL)
 	{
 	  bfd_set_error (bfd_error_no_debug_section);
 	  return FALSE;
@@ -7149,8 +7149,8 @@ evax_bfd_print_dst (struct bfd *abfd, unsigned int dst_size, FILE *file)
       dst_size -= len;
       off += len;
       len -= sizeof (dsth);
-      buf = bfd_malloc (len);
-      if (bfd_bread (buf, len, abfd) != len)
+      buf = _bfd_malloc_and_read (abfd, len, len);
+      if (buf == NULL)
 	{
 	  fprintf (file, _("cannot read DST symbol\n"));
 	  return;
@@ -8065,14 +8065,12 @@ evax_bfd_print_image (bfd *abfd, FILE *file)
       unsigned int codeadroff;
       unsigned int lpfixoff;
       unsigned int chgprtoff;
+      file_ptr f_off = (file_ptr) (eiaf_vbn - 1) * VMS_BLOCK_SIZE;
 
-      buf = bfd_malloc (eiaf_size);
-
-      if (bfd_seek (abfd, (file_ptr) (eiaf_vbn - 1) * VMS_BLOCK_SIZE, SEEK_SET)
-	  || bfd_bread (buf, eiaf_size, abfd) != eiaf_size)
+      if (bfd_seek (abfd, f_off, SEEK_SET) != 0
+	  || (buf = _bfd_malloc_and_read (abfd, eiaf_size, eiaf_size)) == NULL)
 	{
 	  fprintf (file, _("cannot read EIHA\n"));
-	  free (buf);
 	  return;
 	}
       eiaf = (struct vms_eiaf *)buf;
diff --git a/bfd/vms-lib.c b/bfd/vms-lib.c
index dc07e79710c..6ae1a7bafbd 100644
--- a/bfd/vms-lib.c
+++ b/bfd/vms-lib.c
@@ -568,14 +568,9 @@ _bfd_vms_lib_archive_p (bfd *abfd, enum vms_lib_kind kind)
 	  != sizeof (buf_reclen))
 	goto err;
       reclen = bfd_getl32 (buf_reclen);
-      buf = bfd_malloc (reclen);
+      buf = _bfd_malloc_and_read (abfd, reclen, reclen);
       if (buf == NULL)
 	goto err;
-      if (bfd_bread (buf, reclen, abfd) != reclen)
-	{
-	  free (buf);
-	  goto err;
-	}
       map = (struct vms_dcxmap *)buf;
       tdata->nbr_dcxsbm = bfd_getl16 (map->nsubs);
       sbm_off = bfd_getl16 (map->sub0);
diff --git a/bfd/wasm-module.c b/bfd/wasm-module.c
index 315d3effb8d..fa8648b9acd 100644
--- a/bfd/wasm-module.c
+++ b/bfd/wasm-module.c
@@ -452,12 +452,10 @@ wasm_scan (bfd *abfd)
 
       if (bfdsec->size != 0)
 	{
-	  bfdsec->contents = bfd_alloc (abfd, bfdsec->size);
+	  bfdsec->contents = _bfd_alloc_and_read (abfd, bfdsec->size,
+						  bfdsec->size);
 	  if (!bfdsec->contents)
 	    goto error_return;
-
-	  if (bfd_bread (bfdsec->contents, bfdsec->size, abfd) != bfdsec->size)
-	    goto error_return;
 	}
 
       vma += bfdsec->size;
diff --git a/bfd/xcofflink.c b/bfd/xcofflink.c
index ff4b4837032..2560d2ca427 100644
--- a/bfd/xcofflink.c
+++ b/bfd/xcofflink.c
@@ -1317,14 +1317,17 @@ xcoff_link_add_symbols (bfd *abfd, struct bfd_link_info *info)
 	{
 	  bfd_byte *linenos;
 
-	  amt = linesz * o->lineno_count;
-	  linenos = bfd_malloc (amt);
+	  if (bfd_seek (abfd, o->line_filepos, SEEK_SET) != 0)
+	    goto error_return;
+	  if (_bfd_mul_overflow (linesz, o->lineno_count, &amt))
+	    {
+	      bfd_set_error (bfd_error_file_too_big);
+	      goto error_return;
+	    }
+	  linenos = _bfd_malloc_and_read (abfd, amt, amt);
 	  if (linenos == NULL)
 	    goto error_return;
 	  reloc_info[o->target_index].linenos = linenos;
-	  if (bfd_seek (abfd, o->line_filepos, SEEK_SET) != 0
-	      || bfd_bread (linenos, amt, abfd) != amt)
-	    goto error_return;
 	}
     }
 
diff --git a/bfd/xsym.c b/bfd/xsym.c
index 9c714c64809..3071a9de3f7 100644
--- a/bfd/xsym.c
+++ b/bfd/xsym.c
@@ -127,24 +127,12 @@ bfd_sym_valid (bfd *abfd)
 unsigned char *
 bfd_sym_read_name_table (bfd *abfd, bfd_sym_header_block *dshb)
 {
-  unsigned char *rstr;
-  long ret;
   size_t table_size = dshb->dshb_nte.dti_page_count * dshb->dshb_page_size;
   size_t table_offset = dshb->dshb_nte.dti_first_page * dshb->dshb_page_size;
 
-  rstr = bfd_alloc (abfd, table_size);
-  if (rstr == NULL)
-    return rstr;
-
-  bfd_seek (abfd, table_offset, SEEK_SET);
-  ret = bfd_bread (rstr, table_size, abfd);
-  if (ret < 0 || (unsigned long) ret != table_size)
-    {
-      bfd_release (abfd, rstr);
-      return NULL;
-    }
-
-  return rstr;
+  if (bfd_seek (abfd, table_offset, SEEK_SET) != 0)
+    return FALSE;
+  return _bfd_alloc_and_read (abfd, table_size, table_size);
 }
 
 void
@@ -1808,22 +1796,11 @@ bfd_sym_print_type_information_table_entry (bfd *abfd,
 
   fprintf (f, "\n            ");
 
-  buf = malloc (entry->physical_size);
-  if (buf == NULL)
-    {
-      fprintf (f, "[ERROR]\n");
-      return;
-    }
-  if (bfd_seek (abfd, entry->offset, SEEK_SET) < 0)
-    {
-      fprintf (f, "[ERROR]\n");
-      free (buf);
-      return;
-    }
-  if (bfd_bread (buf, entry->physical_size, abfd) != entry->physical_size)
+  if (bfd_seek (abfd, entry->offset, SEEK_SET) != 0
+      || (buf = _bfd_malloc_and_read (abfd, entry->physical_size,
+				      entry->physical_size)) == NULL)
     {
       fprintf (f, "[ERROR]\n");
-      free (buf);
       return;
     }