Overview
The cybersecurity landscape is riddled with threats that, if left unchecked, can lead to severe consequences. One such vulnerability that has recently come into the spotlight is CVE-2025-8833, a critical vulnerability plaguing various Linksys devices. This vulnerability is notable due to its high severity score and the potential system compromise or data leakage it could cause.
Affecting the function langSwitchBack of the file /goform/langSwitchBack in Linksys RE6250, RE6300, RE6350, RE6500, RE7000, and RE9000 up to version 20250801, the vulnerability is a serious threat to users and organizations using these devices. The issue lies in the manipulation of the argument langSelectionOnly, which leads to a stack-based buffer overflow. It is of utmost importance to understand the implications of this vulnerability and take necessary actions to secure affected systems.
Vulnerability Summary
CVE ID: CVE-2025-8833
Severity: Critical (8.8 CVSS Score)
Attack Vector: Remote
Privileges Required: None
User Interaction: Required
Impact: Potential system compromise or data leakage
Affected Products
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Product | Affected Versions
Linksys RE6250 | Up to 20250801
Linksys RE6300 | Up to 20250801
Linksys RE6350 | Up to 20250801
Linksys RE6500 | Up to 20250801
Linksys RE7000 | Up to 20250801
Linksys RE9000 | Up to 20250801
How the Exploit Works
The vulnerability stems from an improperly handled argument in the langSelectionOnly function of the file /goform/langSwitchBack in the affected Linksys devices. By manipulating this argument, an attacker can trigger a buffer overflow. This overflow can lead to the execution of arbitrary code, granting the attacker extensive control over the system.
Conceptual Example Code
An example exploit might look like this:
POST /goform/langSwitchBack HTTP/1.1
Host: target.example.com
Content-Type: application/x-www-form-urlencoded
langSelectionOnly=1; [buffer overflow inducing payload]This payload would exploit the buffer overflow vulnerability, potentially giving the attacker control over the affected system. Please note this is a conceptual example and not a working exploit.
Mitigation Guidance
It is highly recommended for users and administrators of affected Linksys devices to apply the vendor patch as soon as possible. If a patch is not currently available, the use of a Web Application Firewall (WAF) or Intrusion Detection System (IDS) can serve as a temporary mitigation. It is also advised to monitor any unusual network activity and regularly update all systems and security software to further fortify the security posture against such threats.