Description
A stack-based buffer overflow vulnerability exists in the MFER parsing functionality of The Biosig Project libbiosig 3.9.0 and Master Branch (35a819fa). A specially crafted MFER file can lead to arbitrary code execution. An attacker can provide a malicious file to trigger this vulnerability.This vulnerability manifests on line 8842 of biosig.c on the current master branch (35a819fa), when the Tag is 12: else if (tag==12) //0x0C { // sampling resolution if (len>6) fprintf(stderr,"Warning MFER tag12 incorrect length %i>6\n",len); val32 = 0; int8_t v8; curPos += ifread(&UnitCode,1,1,hdr); curPos += ifread(&v8,1,1,hdr); curPos += ifread(buf,1,len-2,hdr); In addition to values of `len` greater than 130 triggering a buffer overflow, a value of `len` smaller than 2 will also trigger a buffer overflow due to an integer underflow when computing `len-2` in this code path.
EPSS Score:
0%
Comprehensive Technical Analysis of EUVD-2025-25676
1. Vulnerability Assessment and Severity Evaluation
The vulnerability described in EUVD-2025-25676 is a stack-based buffer overflow in the MFER parsing functionality of The Biosig Project's libbiosig library, versions 3.9.0 and the Master Branch (35a819fa). This vulnerability allows an attacker to execute arbitrary code by providing a specially crafted MFER file. The severity of this vulnerability is rated with a CVSS Base Score of 9.8, indicating a critical risk. The CVSS vector (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H) highlights the following characteristics:
- Attack Vector (AV:N): Network-based attack.
- Attack Complexity (AC:L): Low complexity required for exploitation.
- Privileges Required (PR:N): No privileges are required.
- User Interaction (UI:N): No user interaction is required.
- Scope (S:U): Unchanged.
- Confidentiality (C:H): High impact on confidentiality.
- Integrity (I:H): High impact on integrity.
- Availability (A:H): High impact on availability.
2. Potential Attack Vectors and Exploitation Methods
The primary attack vector involves an attacker crafting a malicious MFER file designed to exploit the buffer overflow vulnerability. This file can be delivered through various means, such as:
- Email Attachments: Sending the malicious file as an email attachment.
- File Sharing Platforms: Uploading the file to a file-sharing service and enticing users to download it.
- Web Downloads: Hosting the file on a website and tricking users into downloading it.
Once the malicious file is processed by the vulnerable libbiosig library, the buffer overflow can be triggered, leading to arbitrary code execution. The specific code path vulnerable to this issue is when the tag is 12 and the len value is either greater than 130 or smaller than 2.
3. Affected Systems and Software Versions
The vulnerability affects the following versions of libbiosig:
- libbiosig 3.9.0
- libbiosig Master Branch (35a819fa)
Any system or application that uses these versions of libbiosig for MFER file parsing is at risk. This includes but is not limited to:
- Biomedical Research Software: Applications that process biomedical signals.
- Healthcare Systems: Software used in healthcare settings for signal processing.
- Research Institutions: Academic and research institutions using libbiosig for data analysis.
4. Recommended Mitigation Strategies
To mitigate the risk posed by this vulnerability, the following strategies are recommended:
- Update to a Patched Version: Ensure that all systems using libbiosig are updated to a version that includes a fix for this vulnerability.
- Input Validation: Implement strict input validation for MFER files to ensure that
lenvalues are within acceptable ranges. - Sandboxing: Run the libbiosig library in a sandboxed environment to limit the impact of any potential exploitation.
- Network Security: Implement network security measures to detect and block malicious file downloads.
- User Education: Educate users about the risks of downloading and opening files from untrusted sources.
5. Impact on European Cybersecurity Landscape
The impact of this vulnerability on the European cybersecurity landscape is significant due to the widespread use of libbiosig in biomedical and healthcare applications. The potential for arbitrary code execution poses a serious threat to the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of sensitive data and systems. Organizations in the healthcare and research sectors should prioritize addressing this vulnerability to protect against potential data breaches and system compromises.
6. Technical Details for Security Professionals
The vulnerability is located in the biosig.c file on line 8842 of the current master branch (35a819fa). The specific code snippet is as follows:
else if (tag==12) //0x0C
{
// sampling resolution
if (len>6) fprintf(stderr,"Warning MFER tag12 incorrect length %i>6\n",len);
val32 = 0;
int8_t v8;
curPos += ifread(&UnitCode,1,1,hdr);
curPos += ifread(&v8,1,1,hdr);
curPos += ifread(buf,1,len-2,hdr);
The issue arises when len is greater than 130 or smaller than 2, leading to a buffer overflow. Security professionals should focus on:
- Code Review: Conduct a thorough code review to identify similar issues in other parts of the library.
- Fuzz Testing: Implement fuzz testing to detect additional vulnerabilities in file parsing functionalities.
- Patch Development: Develop and deploy patches to address the buffer overflow issue.
- Monitoring: Implement monitoring to detect any unusual activity that may indicate an attempted exploitation.
By addressing this vulnerability promptly and comprehensively, organizations can significantly reduce the risk of exploitation and protect their critical systems and data.