CVE-2025-32899 in Connect
Summary
by MITRE • 12/05/2025
In KDE Connect before 1.33.0 on Android, a packet can be crafted that causes two paired devices to unpair. Specifically, it is an invalid discovery packet sent over broadcast UDP.
Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/05/2025
CVE-2025-32899 represents a significant security vulnerability in KDE Connect versions prior to 1.33.0 affecting Android devices that utilize the KDE Connect application for device pairing and communication. This vulnerability specifically targets the device discovery mechanism within the application's network protocol implementation, creating a scenario where malicious actors can exploit broadcast UDP packets to forcibly disrupt legitimate device pairings. The flaw exists in the validation logic of the discovery packet processing component, where the system fails to properly sanitize incoming broadcast messages before attempting to process them.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation within the KDE Connect Android application's network stack. When devices are paired through KDE Connect, they maintain a persistent connection using a discovery protocol that operates over UDP broadcast channels. The vulnerability occurs because the application does not adequately verify the integrity and authenticity of discovery packets received over these broadcast channels. An attacker can craft a specially formatted packet that appears to be a legitimate discovery message but contains malformed or malicious data that triggers an unexpected behavior in the pairing logic, ultimately causing both devices to terminate their established pairing relationship.
This vulnerability directly impacts the operational security and user experience of KDE Connect users by creating a persistent threat vector that can be exploited remotely without requiring physical access to either device. The attack scenario is particularly concerning because it operates at the network level and can be executed from any location within the broadcast range of the affected devices. The implications extend beyond simple pairing disruption, as this vulnerability could be leveraged as part of a broader attack chain to compromise device communication integrity, potentially enabling more sophisticated attacks such as man-in-the-middle scenarios or device hijacking. The vulnerability affects the fundamental pairing mechanism that KDE Connect relies upon for establishing trusted communication channels between devices.
The security implications of CVE-2025-32899 align with CWE-20, which addresses "Improper Input Validation," and represents a classic example of how inadequate packet validation can lead to denial-of-service conditions and communication disruption. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1566.001, "Phishing via Service", and potentially T1071.004, "Application Layer Protocol: DNS", as attackers could leverage this to disrupt legitimate communication channels. The vulnerability also relates to T1499.004, "Endpoint Denial of Service", as it can be used to deny service to legitimate pairing operations. Organizations and individuals using KDE Connect should immediately update to version 1.33.0 or later, which includes proper packet validation and sanitization mechanisms. Additional mitigations include network segmentation to limit broadcast traffic exposure, firewall rules to restrict UDP broadcast communications, and regular monitoring for unusual pairing activity that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input validation in network protocols and highlights how seemingly minor implementation flaws can have significant security implications in device-to-device communication systems.