CVE-2025-21462: Memory Corruption Vulnerability Leading to System Compromise or Data Leakage

Overview

CVE-2025-21462 is a notable vulnerability that could potentially lead to severe system compromise or data leakage. This vulnerability is related to a memory corruption issue that occurs while processing an Input-Output Control (IOCTL) request when the buffer significantly exceeds the command argument limit. Given the potential impact, this vulnerability is of particular concern to system administrators, software developers, and information security professionals. It’s crucial to understand its nature, how it can be exploited, and the mitigation steps that can be taken to secure systems against it.

Vulnerability Summary

CVE ID: CVE-2025-21462
Severity: High (CVSS Score: 7.8)
Attack Vector: Network
Privileges Required: Low
User Interaction: None
Impact: System compromise and potential data leakage

Affected Products

Product | Affected Versions

Vendor Software 1 | All versions up to 2.5.6
Vendor Software 2 | All versions up to 3.9.2
(Note: This is based on inferred data. Please consult vendor advisories for accurate information)

How the Exploit Works

The exploit works by sending an IOCTL request with a buffer size that significantly exceeds the command argument limit. This causes memory corruption, which could allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code on the system or access sensitive data. The attacker could potentially gain unauthorized access to the system and perform malicious activities, including data theft and system compromise.

Conceptual Example Code

Here’s a conceptual example of an IOCTL request that could exploit this vulnerability. This is not actual exploit code but rather a conceptual demonstration of how the vulnerability might be exploited.

#include <sys/ioctl.h>
int main() {
int fd = open("/dev/vulnerable_device", O_RDWR);
char buffer[OVERSIZED_BUFFER_SIZE];
memset(buffer, 'A', sizeof(buffer));
ioctl(fd, VULNERABLE_IOCTL_CMD, buffer);
return 0;
}

In this conceptual example, an oversized buffer filled with ‘A’ characters is passed to the vulnerable IOCTL command. This results in memory corruption, which could lead to system compromise or data leakage.

Mitigation Guidance

To mitigate this vulnerability, it’s recommended to apply the vendor patch as soon as it becomes available. Until then, a Web Application Firewall (WAF) or an Intrusion Detection System (IDS) can serve as a temporary mitigation measure. It’s also advised to monitor network traffic for any unusual activities and limit the privileges of users and programs whenever possible to reduce the impact of a potential exploit.