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 8719 of biosig.c on the current master branch (35a819fa), when the Tag is 0: if (tag==0) { if (len!=1) fprintf(stderr,"Warning MFER tag0 incorrect length %i!=1\n",len); curPos += ifread(buf,1,len,hdr); }
EPSS Score:
0%
Comprehensive Technical Analysis of EUVD-2025-25683
1. Vulnerability Assessment and Severity Evaluation
The vulnerability EUVD-2025-25683 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): Network (N) - The vulnerability can be exploited remotely over the network.
- Attack Complexity (AC): Low (L) - The attack is relatively straightforward to execute.
- Privileges Required (PR): None (N) - No special privileges are required to exploit the vulnerability.
- User Interaction (UI): None (N) - No user interaction is required for the attack to succeed.
- Scope (S): Unchanged (U) - The vulnerability does not change the security scope.
- Confidentiality (C): High (H) - The vulnerability can lead to a complete breach of confidentiality.
- Integrity (I): High (H) - The vulnerability can lead to a complete breach of integrity.
- Availability (A): High (H) - The vulnerability can lead to a complete breach of availability.
2. Potential Attack Vectors and Exploitation Methods
The primary attack vector involves providing a malicious MFER file to the vulnerable system. This can be achieved through various means, including:
- Phishing Attacks: Sending a crafted MFER file via email or other communication channels.
- Malicious Websites: Hosting the malicious file on a website and enticing users to download it.
- Supply Chain Attacks: Compromising a legitimate software update mechanism to deliver the malicious file.
Exploitation methods typically involve crafting an MFER file with a specific structure that triggers the buffer overflow when parsed by the libbiosig library. The attacker can then inject malicious code into the buffer, leading to arbitrary code execution.
3. Affected Systems and Software Versions
The vulnerability affects:
- libbiosig version 3.9.0
- libbiosig Master Branch (commit 35a819fa)
Any system or application that uses these versions of the libbiosig library for MFER file parsing is at risk. This includes but is not limited to:
- Medical and biometric data processing systems
- Research and academic institutions using The Biosig Project
- Any software that integrates libbiosig for signal processing tasks
4. Recommended Mitigation Strategies
To mitigate the risk associated with this vulnerability, the following strategies are recommended:
- Patch Management: Immediately update to a patched version of libbiosig once available.
- Input Validation: Implement strict input validation for MFER files to ensure they conform to expected formats and sizes.
- Sandboxing: Run the libbiosig library in a sandboxed environment to limit the impact of any potential exploitation.
- Network Segmentation: Segregate critical systems from general network traffic to reduce the attack surface.
- User Education: Educate users about the risks of downloading and opening files from untrusted sources.
5. Impact on European Cybersecurity Landscape
The vulnerability poses a significant risk to the European cybersecurity landscape, particularly in sectors that rely on biometric and medical data processing. The potential for arbitrary code execution can lead to data breaches, loss of sensitive information, and disruption of critical services. Organizations in the healthcare, research, and biometric authentication sectors should prioritize addressing this vulnerability to protect against potential attacks.
6. Technical Details for Security Professionals
The vulnerability manifests on line 8719 of biosig.c in the current master branch (35a819fa), specifically when the Tag is 0:
if (tag==0) {
if (len!=1) fprintf(stderr,"Warning MFER tag0 incorrect length %i!=1\n",len);
curPos += ifread(buf,1,len,hdr);
}
The issue arises from the lack of proper bounds checking on the len variable, which can lead to a buffer overflow when len is greater than the allocated buffer size. Security professionals should:
- Review Code: Conduct a thorough code review to identify similar issues in other parts of the library.
- Implement Bounds Checking: Ensure that all input lengths are properly validated before processing.
- Monitor for Updates: Stay informed about updates and patches from The Biosig Project and apply them promptly.
- Incident Response: Prepare an incident response plan to quickly detect and mitigate any exploitation attempts.
By addressing these technical details, security professionals can enhance the overall security posture of systems using the libbiosig library.
Conclusion
EUVD-2025-25683 represents a critical vulnerability that requires immediate attention from cybersecurity professionals. By understanding the technical details, potential attack vectors, and recommended mitigation strategies, organizations can effectively protect against this threat and maintain the integrity and security of their systems.