CVE-2025-53557 in libbiosig
Summary
by MITRE • 08/25/2025
A heap-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 • 09/03/2025
The heap-based buffer overflow vulnerability identified as CVE-2025-53557 resides within the MFER parsing component of the Biosig Project libbiosig library version 3.9.0 and its master branch revision 35a819fa. This critical security flaw manifests when the library processes specially crafted MFER files that contain malformed data structures. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and bounds checking within the memory allocation routines that handle MFER file parsing operations. MFER files are medical file formats commonly used in biomedical signal processing applications, making this vulnerability particularly concerning for healthcare and research environments that rely on the libbiosig library for data processing.
The technical implementation of this buffer overflow occurs during the heap memory allocation phase when the library attempts to parse and store data from malicious MFER files. The flaw arises from improper handling of variable-length data fields within the MFER format specification, where the parser fails to validate the size of incoming data against allocated buffer boundaries. When an attacker crafts an MFER file containing oversized data fields or malformed headers, the parsing function allocates insufficient heap memory to accommodate the data, resulting in memory corruption that overflows into adjacent heap regions. This memory corruption creates predictable overwrite conditions that can be exploited to manipulate program execution flow and potentially achieve arbitrary code execution.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution, as it represents a critical remote code execution vector that can be exploited without requiring user interaction or elevated privileges. An attacker with access to the victim system can deliver a malicious MFER file through various attack vectors including email attachments, web downloads, or file sharing platforms. Once executed, the vulnerability allows attackers to gain complete control over the affected system, potentially leading to data exfiltration, system compromise, or further lateral movement within network environments. The vulnerability affects any application or system that utilizes the libbiosig library for processing MFER files, including medical imaging systems, research data analysis platforms, and biomedical signal processing applications.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2025-53557 should prioritize immediate patching of affected libbiosig library versions, with particular attention to implementing proper input validation and bounds checking mechanisms. Organizations should establish robust file validation procedures that verify MFER file integrity before processing, including size constraints and format compliance checks. The implementation of address space layout randomization and stack canaries can provide additional defense-in-depth measures against exploitation attempts. System administrators should also consider implementing network-based intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious file transfer activities involving MFER files. According to CWE standards, this vulnerability maps to CWE-121 heap-based buffer overflow, while ATT&CK framework categorizes it under T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter and T1566 for malicious file delivery, highlighting the multi-stage nature of exploitation that requires both initial access and execution capabilities.