CVE-2025-47815 in PSPP
Summary
by MITRE • 05/11/2025
libpspp-core.a in GNU PSPP through 2.0.1 allows attackers to cause a heap-based buffer overflow in inflate_read (called indirectly from zip_member_read_all) in zip-reader.c.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/13/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2025-47815 affects GNU PSPP version 2.0.1 and earlier, specifically within the libpspp-core.a library component. This heap-based buffer overflow occurs during the processing of compressed archive files through the zip reader functionality. The vulnerability is triggered when the inflate_read function is called indirectly from zip_member_read_all in the zip-reader.c source file, creating a critical security risk for systems that process untrusted zip archives. The flaw represents a classic memory corruption vulnerability that can potentially be exploited to execute arbitrary code or cause denial of service conditions.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate bounds checking within the decompression routine of the zip reader component. When processing compressed data from zip archives, the inflate_read function fails to properly validate the size of data being read into heap-allocated buffers. This allows an attacker to craft malicious zip files that contain oversized compressed data streams, causing the decompression process to write beyond the allocated buffer boundaries. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates at the core decompression layer of the zip handling functionality, making it accessible through normal file processing operations without requiring special privileges or complex attack vectors. The issue manifests as a heap-based buffer overflow, which is classified under CWE-121 in the Common Weakness Enumeration catalog, representing an out-of-bounds write condition in heap memory.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to organizations that process untrusted zip archives, particularly in environments where automated file handling or data import operations occur. The impact extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios to potentially enable remote code execution if attackers can control the memory layout or if the system lacks modern exploit mitigations such as stack canaries or address space layout randomization. Systems utilizing GNU PSPP for statistical data processing, particularly those that import data from external sources or process user-uploaded zip files, face elevated risk exposure. The vulnerability's indirect triggering mechanism through zip_member_read_all means that even seemingly innocuous zip file operations can trigger the overflow, making detection and prevention more challenging for security teams.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2025-47815 should prioritize immediate patching of affected GNU PSPP installations to version 2.0.2 or later, where the buffer overflow has been addressed through proper bounds checking in the inflate_read function. Organizations should also implement strict input validation for all zip archive processing, including size limitations and content filtering for suspicious archive structures. Network-level defenses can include zip file scanning and sandboxed processing environments for untrusted archives. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for execution through decompression utilities and T1203 for exploitation of memory corruption vulnerabilities, emphasizing the need for comprehensive defensive measures. System administrators should also consider implementing automated vulnerability scanning tools that can detect the presence of affected GNU PSPP versions in their environments, while security monitoring should include detection of unusual file processing patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts.