CVE-2025-2584 in wabt
Summary
by MITRE • 03/21/2025
A vulnerability was found in WebAssembly wabt 1.0.36. It has been declared as critical. This vulnerability affects the function BinaryReaderInterp::GetReturnCallDropKeepCount of the file wabt/src/interp/binary-reader-interp.cc. The manipulation leads to heap-based buffer overflow. The attack can be initiated remotely. The complexity of an attack is rather high. The exploitation appears to be difficult. The exploit has been disclosed to the public and may be used.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/26/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2025-2584 represents a critical heap-based buffer overflow within the WebAssembly wabt 1.0.36 software library. This flaw exists in the BinaryReaderInterp::GetReturnCallDropKeepCount function located in wabt/src/interp/binary-reader-interp.cc, making it a significant concern for systems that process WebAssembly binaries. The issue stems from inadequate input validation and bounds checking when parsing WebAssembly binary format structures, specifically during interpretation of return call drop keep count operations. The vulnerability's classification as critical indicates the potential for severe impact including arbitrary code execution, system compromise, or denial of service scenarios.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves improper handling of memory allocation and data processing within the WebAssembly binary reader component. When the interpreter encounters specific malformed WebAssembly binary inputs, the GetReturnCallDropKeepCount function fails to properly validate input boundaries, leading to memory corruption through heap-based buffer overflow conditions. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-121 heap-based buffer overflow, where insufficient checks allow attackers to write beyond allocated memory boundaries. The attack vector is remote, meaning malicious WebAssembly binaries can be delivered through web applications, web servers, or any system processing WebAssembly content, making the exploitation surface quite broad.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios, as the heap-based buffer overflow could potentially enable arbitrary code execution on affected systems. Attackers who can successfully exploit this vulnerability may gain complete control over systems processing WebAssembly binaries, particularly those running wabt 1.0.36 or earlier versions. The high attack complexity and difficulty of exploitation suggest that sophisticated attackers with deep understanding of WebAssembly binary formats and memory corruption techniques would be required to successfully leverage this vulnerability. However, the public disclosure of exploitation methods significantly lowers the barrier to entry for malicious actors. This vulnerability affects web applications, server-side WebAssembly interpreters, and development tools that utilize the wabt library for WebAssembly binary processing.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2025-2584 primarily focus on immediate software updates and version management to address the root cause. Organizations should prioritize upgrading to wabt versions that contain patches for this vulnerability, typically version 1.0.37 or later. Additionally, implementing input validation and sandboxing mechanisms can provide defensive layers against exploitation attempts. Network segmentation and access controls should be enforced to limit exposure of systems that process WebAssembly binaries. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect anomalous WebAssembly binary processing patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability's presence in a widely-used WebAssembly toolchain means that comprehensive security assessments should be conducted across all systems utilizing wabt components, particularly those handling untrusted WebAssembly inputs. Regular security updates and vulnerability management processes should be strengthened to prevent similar issues from arising in other components of the WebAssembly ecosystem.