CVE-2025-6375 in poco
Summary
by MITRE • 06/21/2025
A vulnerability was found in poco up to 1.14.1. It has been rated as problematic. Affected by this issue is the function MultipartInputStream of the file Net/src/MultipartReader.cpp. The manipulation leads to null pointer dereference. The attack needs to be approached locally. The exploit has been disclosed to the public and may be used. Upgrading to version 1.14.2 is able to address this issue. The patch is identified as 6f2f85913c191ab9ddfb8fae781f5d66afccf3bf. It is recommended to upgrade the affected component.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/21/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2025-6375 affects the poco library version 1.14.1 and earlier, representing a critical null pointer dereference flaw within the MultipartInputStream function located in Net/src/MultipartReader.cpp. This issue stems from inadequate input validation during multipart form data processing, where the application fails to properly handle malformed or unexpected input sequences that could lead to a crash condition. The vulnerability is classified as locally exploitable, meaning an attacker must have access to the system where the vulnerable component is running to leverage this weakness, though the public disclosure of exploit details significantly increases the risk to systems using affected versions. The null pointer dereference occurs when the MultipartInputStream function attempts to access memory through a null pointer reference, typically when processing multipart data that does not conform to expected formatting patterns.
The technical impact of this vulnerability manifests as a potential application crash or denial of service condition that could be exploited to disrupt system availability. When the vulnerable code path is executed with maliciously crafted multipart data, the application will attempt to dereference a null pointer, resulting in an abrupt termination of the process. This behavior aligns with CWE-476 which specifically addresses null pointer dereference vulnerabilities, and represents a classic example of how improper input validation can lead to system instability. The attack vector requires local access because the vulnerability exists within a library function that processes data streams, making it accessible only to users with local system privileges who can manipulate the input data. The exploitability is further enhanced by the public disclosure of attack methods, which means that threat actors do not require advanced technical skills to leverage this weakness.
From an operational standpoint, this vulnerability poses significant risks to applications that rely on the poco library for network communication and data processing tasks. Systems using affected versions may experience unexpected service interruptions when processing multipart form data, potentially affecting web applications, file upload services, or any system that handles HTTP multipart requests. The vulnerability affects the core functionality of the library's multipart handling capabilities, which are commonly used in web frameworks, API endpoints, and file processing applications. Organizations using vulnerable versions of poco must consider the broader implications of this flaw, as it could potentially be chained with other vulnerabilities or used as part of a larger attack strategy targeting the application stack. The impact extends beyond simple denial of service to potentially exposing system stability and availability, particularly in environments where high availability is critical.
The recommended remediation approach involves upgrading to poco version 1.14.2, which includes a specific patch identified by the commit hash 6f2f85913c191ab9ddfb8fae781f5d66afccf3bf. This patch addresses the null pointer dereference by implementing proper input validation and null checking mechanisms within the MultipartInputStream function. Organizations should prioritize this upgrade across all systems that utilize the affected library, particularly those handling user-supplied multipart data. The patch implementation follows established security practices for addressing memory safety issues and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1211 which covers privilege escalation through memory corruption vulnerabilities. Security teams should also implement monitoring for unusual application behavior or crash patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, while conducting comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify any other components that might be using vulnerable versions of the poco library. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing input sanitization layers and robust error handling mechanisms as defensive measures against similar vulnerabilities in their application code.