CVE-2025-54878: Heap Buffer Overflow Vulnerability in NASA CryptoLib

Overview

The discovery of the CVE-2025-54878 vulnerability has raised concerns about the security of the communication between spacecrafts and ground stations. This vulnerability exists in NASA CryptoLib, a software solution that secures these communications using the CCSDS Space Data Link Security Protocol – Extended Procedures (SDLS-EP). The implications of this flaw are far-reaching, potentially affecting not only NASA’s internal operations, but also its numerous global collaborations and partnerships.
This vulnerability is particularly significant due to the potential for system compromise and data leakage, which could result in significant mission disruptions and potential national security risks. Considering the high stakes of space exploration and research, it is critical that this vulnerability is promptly addressed and mitigated.

Vulnerability Summary

CVE ID: CVE-2025-54878
Severity: High (8.6 CVSS score)
Attack Vector: Remote
Privileges Required: None
User Interaction: None
Impact: Potential system compromise or data leakage

Affected Products

Product | Affected Versions

NASA CryptoLib | 1.4.0 and prior versions

How the Exploit Works

The vulnerability arises from a lack of bounds checks when the Initialization Vector (IV) is copied into a new buffer during the setup of telecommand frames. This oversight can allow an attacker to craft a telecommand frame that causes the library to write a byte beyond the allocated buffer. This action results in heap corruption and triggers undefined behaviour.
Heap corruption can manifest in different ways, including a system crash that results in denial-of-service, or even more severe forms of exploitation. If an attacker successfully exploits this vulnerability, they could potentially compromise the entire system or cause data leaks.

Conceptual Example Code

In a real-world scenario, an attacker could manipulate the telecommand frames transmitted between the spacecraft and the ground station. Although the actual exploit would be highly complex and specific to the CryptoLib software, a conceptual example could look like this:

def craft_malicious_frame():
buffer_size = get_buffer_size()
crafted_iv = "A" * (buffer_size + 1)  # One byte more than the buffer can handle
crafted_frame = Frame(initialization_vector=crafted_iv)
return crafted_frame
malicious_frame = craft_malicious_frame()
transmit_frame(malicious_frame)

In this conceptual example, an attacker creates a frame with an initialization vector (IV) that is longer than the buffer can handle. When this frame is transmitted, it results in writing one byte past the buffer, leading to heap corruption.