CVE-2025-49490 in Falcon_Linux
Summary
by MITRE • 07/01/2025
Resource leak vulnerability in ASR180x in router allows Resource Leak Exposure. This vulnerability is associated with program files router/sms/sms.c. This issue affects Falcon_Linux、Kestrel、Lapwing_Linux: before v1536.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/22/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2025-49490 represents a critical resource leak flaw within the ASR180x router firmware affecting multiple Linux-based operating systems. This issue manifests in the router/sms/sms.c program file where improper resource management leads to sustained memory consumption and potential system instability. The vulnerability falls under the CWE-404 category of Resource Leak, specifically exposing the system to resource leak exposure conditions that can degrade performance over time. The affected systems include Falcon_Linux, Kestrel, and Lapwing_Linux versions prior to v1536, indicating a widespread impact across multiple firmware variants of the ASR180x series.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate resource cleanup mechanisms within the sms.c module responsible for handling router messaging services. When the system processes certain network messages or routing operations, allocated memory segments and system resources are not properly released back to the operating system. This condition creates a progressive consumption of available memory resources, eventually leading to system slowdowns, service degradation, or complete system exhaustion. The flaw operates at the kernel or system-level resource management layer, making it particularly dangerous as it can affect core routing functionality and overall system stability. From an attack perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.001 which involves resource exhaustion attacks targeting system performance degradation.
The operational impact of CVE-2025-49490 extends beyond simple performance degradation to potentially compromise network availability and reliability. Network administrators may observe gradual system slowdowns, increased memory usage, and intermittent service disruptions as the resource leak accumulates over time. In production environments, this vulnerability could lead to significant operational costs due to increased maintenance requirements, potential service outages, and the need for emergency firmware updates. The vulnerability's persistence means that once a system is compromised, the resource leak continues until manual intervention occurs through system reboot or firmware patching. Organizations relying on ASR180x routers for critical network infrastructure may face substantial risks including service interruptions, data transmission delays, and potential security exposure through system instability.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2025-49490 should prioritize immediate firmware updates to versions v1536 or later where the resource leak has been addressed. Network administrators should implement monitoring solutions to track memory usage patterns and identify early signs of resource exhaustion. The patching process should include comprehensive testing in controlled environments before deployment to production systems. Additionally, implementing resource monitoring and alerting mechanisms can help detect the vulnerability's symptoms before complete system failure occurs. Security teams should consider implementing network segmentation to limit the impact of potential resource exhaustion attacks and establish baseline performance metrics for system resource utilization. Regular vulnerability assessments and firmware update schedules should be maintained to prevent similar issues from arising in the future, with particular attention to resource management code reviews and static analysis of system components.