{"id":64116,"date":"2025-08-17T08:38:00","date_gmt":"2025-08-17T08:38:00","guid":{"rendered":""},"modified":"2025-09-04T06:30:27","modified_gmt":"2025-09-04T12:30:27","slug":"cve-2025-54878-heap-buffer-overflow-vulnerability-in-nasa-cryptolib","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ameeba.com\/blog\/cve-2025-54878-heap-buffer-overflow-vulnerability-in-nasa-cryptolib\/","title":{"rendered":"CVE-2025-54878: Heap Buffer Overflow Vulnerability in NASA CryptoLib<\/strong>"},"content":{"rendered":"

Overview<\/strong><\/p>\n

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.
\nThis vulnerability is particularly significant due to the potential for system<\/a> 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<\/a> is promptly addressed and mitigated.<\/p>\n

Vulnerability Summary<\/strong><\/p>\n

CVE ID: CVE-2025-54878
\nSeverity: High (8.6 CVSS score)
\nAttack Vector: Remote
\nPrivileges Required: None
\nUser Interaction: None
\nImpact: Potential system compromise or data<\/a> leakage<\/p>\n

Affected Products<\/strong><\/p>\n

Product | Affected Versions<\/p>\n

NASA CryptoLib | 1.4.0 and prior versions<\/a><\/p>\n

How the Exploit Works<\/strong><\/p>\n

The vulnerability arises from a lack of bounds<\/a> 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<\/a>. This action results in heap corruption<\/a> and triggers undefined behaviour.
\nHeap corruption<\/a> 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<\/a> or cause data leaks.<\/p>\n

Conceptual Example Code<\/strong><\/p>\n

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:<\/p>\n

def craft_malicious_frame():\nbuffer_size = get_buffer_size()\ncrafted_iv = \"A\" * (buffer_size + 1)  # One byte more than the buffer can handle\ncrafted_frame = Frame(initialization_vector=crafted_iv)\nreturn crafted_frame\nmalicious_frame = craft_malicious_frame()\ntransmit_frame(malicious_frame)<\/code><\/pre>\n
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<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"vendor":[],"product":[],"attack_vector":[86],"asset_type":[],"severity":[],"exploit_status":[],"class_list":["post-64116","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","attack_vector-buffer-overflow"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t