CVE-2019-25548 in BlueStacks
Summary
by MITRE • 03/21/2026
BlueStacks 4.80.0.1060 contains a denial of service vulnerability that allows local attackers to crash the application by submitting oversized input to the search field. Attackers can paste a buffer of 100,000 'A' characters into the search field and trigger a search operation to cause the application to crash.
VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/21/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-25548 affects BlueStacks version 4.80.0.1060, representing a critical denial of service weakness that compromises application stability and availability. This issue manifests through improper input validation mechanisms within the application's search functionality, creating a scenario where malicious or unintended input can lead to complete application termination. The vulnerability specifically targets the search field component of the BlueStacks Android emulator platform, which serves as a primary interface for users to navigate and interact with the virtualized Android environment.
The technical flaw stems from insufficient bounds checking and input sanitization within the search processing module. When an attacker submits a buffer containing 100,000 consecutive 'A' characters through the search field, the application fails to properly handle this oversized input during the search operation execution. This condition triggers a buffer overflow or memory corruption scenario that ultimately results in application crash and termination. The vulnerability operates at the input processing layer, where the application lacks adequate defensive programming practices to prevent excessive data from overwhelming the search functionality's memory allocation and processing capabilities. This weakness aligns with CWE-121, which addresses stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and CWE-122, which covers heap-based buffer overflow scenarios, demonstrating the fundamental nature of improper memory handling in the affected system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple application instability, creating potential risks for users who rely on BlueStacks for legitimate productivity or gaming activities. Local attackers can exploit this weakness to disrupt the normal operation of the Android emulator, potentially causing data loss or requiring manual restart procedures that interrupt workflow processes. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in environments where BlueStacks is used for business applications or automated testing scenarios, as the denial of service condition could lead to significant productivity losses. Additionally, the accessibility of this attack vector through simple copy-paste operations means that exploitation requires minimal technical skill, making it a viable threat for both malicious actors and accidental users who might inadvertently trigger the condition.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing robust input validation and sanitization measures within the search functionality. System administrators and developers should enforce strict character limit enforcement on search inputs, typically capping submissions at reasonable lengths that accommodate legitimate use cases while preventing malicious exploitation. The implementation of proper memory management practices including dynamic buffer allocation with bounds checking would address the underlying cause of the vulnerability. Security measures should also include input length validation at multiple layers of the application architecture, with immediate rejection of inputs exceeding predefined thresholds. Organizations using BlueStacks should consider applying the vendor-provided patch or upgrade to a version that addresses this specific vulnerability. This remediation aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.004, which covers network denial of service attacks, and demonstrates the importance of defensive programming practices in preventing resource exhaustion attacks that target application stability and availability.