use dynamically_sized_array_of_pointers in _get_sect_count

volatility3/framework/symbols/linux/extensions/__init__.py

@@ -198,21 +198,17 @@ class module(generic.GenericIntelProcess):
             )
             return 0
 
-        entry = arr_offset.dereference()
-        symbol_table_name = self.get_symbol_table_name()
-        idx = 0
-        while entry.is_readable():
-            idx += 1
-            entry = self._context.object(
-                symbol_table_name + constants.BANG + "pointer",
-                layer_name=self.vol.layer_name,
-                offset=entry.vol.offset
-                + self._context.symbol_space.get_type(
-                    symbol_table_name + constants.BANG + "pointer"
-                ).size,
-            )
-
-        return idx
+        # We chose 1000 as an arbitrary guard value against
+        # extreme cases of smearing.
+        # See PR #1773 for more information.
+        bin_attrs_list = utility.dynamically_sized_array_of_pointers(
+            context=self._context,
+            layer_name=self.vol.layer_name,
+            symbol_table_name=self.get_symbol_table_name(),
+            array_offset=arr_offset.dereference().vol.offset,
+            iterator_guard_value=1000,
+        )
+        return len(bin_attrs_list)
 
     @functools.cached_property
     def number_of_sections(self) -> int: