CVE-2025-2176 in libzvbi
Summary
by MITRE • 03/11/2025
A vulnerability classified as critical has been found in libzvbi up to 0.2.43. This affects the function vbi_capture_sim_load_caption of the file src/io-sim.c. The manipulation leads to integer overflow. It is possible to initiate the attack remotely. The exploit has been disclosed to the public and may be used. Upgrading to version 0.2.44 is able to address this issue. The identifier of the patch is ca1672134b3e2962cd392212c73f44f8f4cb489f. It is recommended to upgrade the affected component. The code maintainer was informed beforehand about the issues. She reacted very fast and highly professional.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/10/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2025-2176 represents a critical integer overflow flaw within the libzvbi library version 0.2.43 and earlier, specifically within the vbi_capture_sim_load_caption function located in src/io-sim.c. This issue arises from improper handling of integer arithmetic operations that can result in overflow conditions when processing certain input data. The integer overflow occurs during the simulation capture process of VBI (Video Binary Information) data, which is commonly used in television broadcasting for transmitting auxiliary data such as closed captions and teletext information. The flaw manifests when the application processes malformed or specially crafted input that triggers the overflow condition, potentially leading to unpredictable behavior and system instability.
The remote exploitation capability of this vulnerability makes it particularly dangerous as attackers can initiate attacks over network connections without requiring local access to the target system. The integer overflow condition can be triggered through manipulation of input parameters that are processed by the vbi_capture_sim_load_caption function, allowing malicious actors to potentially execute arbitrary code or cause denial of service conditions. This vulnerability falls under CWE-190, which specifically addresses integer overflow and wraparound conditions, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203, which covers exploitation for privilege escalation through software vulnerabilities. The public disclosure of the exploit code further amplifies the risk, as it provides threat actors with readily available tools to leverage this weakness.
The operational impact of CVE-2025-2176 extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios, as integer overflows can lead to memory corruption and potential code execution. Systems utilizing libzvbi for processing VBI data, particularly those in broadcast environments or applications handling television signal processing, face significant risk from this vulnerability. The issue affects not only standalone applications but also complex systems that depend on libzvbi for proper operation, including media processing pipelines, television equipment, and specialized broadcast software. Attackers could potentially leverage this vulnerability to gain unauthorized access to systems, manipulate broadcast data, or disrupt critical television services that rely on proper VBI handling.
The remediation strategy involves upgrading to libzvbi version 0.2.44, which contains the necessary patch identified by the commit hash ca1672134b3e2962cd392212c73f44f8f4cb489f. This patch addresses the integer overflow by implementing proper bounds checking and input validation within the vulnerable function. Organizations should prioritize this upgrade across all systems that utilize libzvbi, particularly those handling television signal processing or broadcast applications. Additional mitigations include implementing network segmentation to limit access to systems using libzvbi, deploying intrusion detection systems to monitor for exploitation attempts, and conducting thorough vulnerability assessments of the entire software supply chain to identify other potential dependencies on vulnerable versions of the library. The swift response from the code maintainer demonstrates responsible vulnerability disclosure practices and highlights the importance of maintaining current security patches for critical system components.