CVE-2025-1253 in Connext Professional
Summary
by MITRE • 05/08/2025
Buffer Copy without Checking Size of Input ('Classic Buffer Overflow') vulnerability in RTI Connext Professional (Core Libraries) allows Overflow Variables and Tags.This issue affects Connext Professional: from 7.4.0 before 7.5.0, from 7.0.0 before 7.3.0.7, from 4.5 before 6.1.2.23.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/01/2025
This classic buffer overflow vulnerability exists within RTI Connext Professional's core libraries, specifically affecting the handling of variable and tag data structures during buffer copy operations. The flaw stems from insufficient input size validation before copying data into fixed-size buffers, creating a condition where maliciously crafted input can exceed allocated memory boundaries. The vulnerability impacts multiple version ranges including 7.4.0 through 7.4.9, 7.0.0 through 7.2.0.7, and 4.5 through 6.1.2.22, indicating a long-standing issue that affects both major and minor releases of the middleware platform. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-121, Classic Buffer Overflow, and represents a fundamental memory safety issue that can lead to arbitrary code execution or system instability.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends significantly within environments that rely on RTI Connext for real-time data distribution, particularly in industrial control systems, aerospace applications, and automotive networks where the middleware facilitates critical communication between distributed components. Attackers exploiting this flaw could potentially overwrite adjacent memory locations, manipulate program execution flow, or inject malicious code into the target process. The vulnerability's presence in the core libraries means that any application utilizing Connext for data sharing, whether in defense systems, manufacturing automation, or telecommunications infrastructure, could be compromised. This makes the impact particularly severe as it affects the foundational communication layer rather than isolated applications.
The attack surface for this vulnerability encompasses any system component that processes data through RTI Connext's variable and tag handling mechanisms, including data readers, writers, and discovery services. The issue is particularly concerning in environments where untrusted data sources feed into the middleware, such as in open network configurations or when integrating third-party systems. From an adversarial perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter, as successful exploitation could enable attackers to execute arbitrary commands within the context of the affected process. Organizations implementing RTI Connext in mission-critical applications should prioritize this vulnerability as it represents a potential pathway for persistent compromise and system takeover.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate patch deployment for all affected versions, with particular attention to the specified version ranges that remain vulnerable. Organizations should implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure of Connext-enabled systems to untrusted networks. Input validation measures should be enhanced at application layers that interface with the middleware to reduce the risk of malicious data injection. Additionally, memory protection mechanisms such as stack canaries, address space layout randomization, and data execution prevention should be enabled to complicate exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments of middleware configurations and network monitoring for unusual data patterns can help detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability's classification as a classic buffer overflow underscores the need for comprehensive code review processes and adherence to secure coding practices throughout the development lifecycle to prevent similar issues in future releases.