CVE-2025-46411 in libbiosig
Summary
by MITRE • 08/25/2025
A stack-based buffer overflow vulnerability exists in the MFER parsing functionality of The Biosig Project libbiosig 3.9.0 and Master Branch (35a819fa). A specially crafted MFER file can lead to arbitrary code execution. An attacker can provide a malicious file to trigger this vulnerability.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/02/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2025-46411 represents a critical stack-based buffer overflow within the MFER parsing component of the libbiosig library version 3.9.0 and its master branch implementation. This flaw resides in the biosig project's core functionality for handling medical file format parsing, specifically targeting the MFER (Medical File Format) parsing mechanism that processes structured medical data files. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and boundary checking during the parsing of maliciously constructed MFER files, creating an exploitable condition that can be leveraged by remote attackers.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability manifests through improper memory management during the parsing of structured medical data formats. When the libbiosig library processes an MFER file containing crafted malicious data, the parsing routine fails to properly validate the size and structure of incoming data segments. This deficiency allows an attacker to overflow the allocated stack buffer, potentially overwriting adjacent memory locations including return addresses and function pointers. The stack-based nature of this overflow means that the vulnerability can be exploited to redirect program execution flow, enabling arbitrary code execution on the target system. This type of vulnerability is classified as CWE-121 Stack-based Buffer Overflow, which directly maps to the ATT&CK technique T1059.007 Command and Scripting Interpreter: PowerShell, as exploitation typically involves crafting malicious payloads that can be executed through command-line interfaces.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution, as it creates a potential attack vector for unauthorized system compromise within medical environments that utilize libbiosig for data processing. Medical facilities, research institutions, and healthcare organizations that depend on this library for handling medical imaging and data files face significant risk from this vulnerability. An attacker could potentially gain unauthorized access to sensitive patient data, disrupt medical services, or establish persistent access points within healthcare networks. The vulnerability affects systems that process medical files through the libbiosig library, making it particularly dangerous in environments where medical data integrity and security are paramount. The exploitation of this vulnerability could result in data breaches, system compromise, and potential disruption of critical healthcare services, with implications for patient safety and regulatory compliance under healthcare data protection standards.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2025-46411 should prioritize immediate patching of the libbiosig library to version 3.9.1 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for the buffer overflow condition. Organizations should implement strict input validation measures and sanitize all MFER files before processing them through the libbiosig library. Network segmentation and access controls should be strengthened to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts. Additionally, monitoring systems should be configured to detect unusual file processing patterns or attempts to access medical data through compromised systems. Security teams should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments of all systems that utilize libbiosig, particularly those handling sensitive medical data. The remediation process should include comprehensive testing to ensure that the patch does not introduce regressions in functionality while maintaining the library's ability to process legitimate medical files. Regular security updates and vulnerability scanning should be implemented as part of ongoing security monitoring to prevent similar issues from arising in future library versions.