CVE-2025-65085 in Cobalt
Summary
by MITRE • 11/25/2025
A Heap-based Buffer Overflow vulnerability is present in Ashlar-Vellum Cobalt, Xenon, Argon, Lithium, and Cobalt Share versions 12.6.1204.207 and prior that could allow an attacker to disclose information or execute arbitrary code.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/28/2025
This heap-based buffer overflow vulnerability exists within Ashlar-Vellum Cobalt, Xenon, Argon, Lithium, and Cobalt Share software versions 12.6.1204.207 and earlier, representing a critical security flaw that could enable remote code execution or information disclosure. The vulnerability stems from improper bounds checking during memory allocation and data processing operations within the application's heap memory management system. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious input that exceeds the allocated buffer size, causing adjacent memory locations to be overwritten or accessed. This flaw falls under CWE-121 Heap-based Buffer Overflow, which is classified as a serious memory safety issue that can lead to arbitrary code execution. The vulnerability's impact is particularly severe given that it affects multiple product variants within the Ashlar-Vellum suite, suggesting a widespread codebase issue that could affect various enterprise environments using these software solutions.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when the application processes user-supplied data without adequate validation of input lengths or buffer boundaries. When malicious data is fed into the system, the heap memory allocation routines fail to properly validate the data size against the allocated buffer space, resulting in memory corruption that can be leveraged for privilege escalation or code injection attacks. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates at the memory management level, allowing attackers to manipulate heap metadata and potentially overwrite function pointers or return addresses. The attack vector typically involves sending specially crafted data packets or files to the vulnerable application, which then processes this input through memory operations that exceed buffer boundaries. The exploitation aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter, where attackers might use the overflow to execute arbitrary commands within the application's memory space.
Organizations utilizing affected versions of Ashlar-Vellum software face significant operational risks including potential data breaches, system compromise, and unauthorized access to sensitive information. The vulnerability could be exploited by remote attackers without requiring authentication, making it particularly dangerous in networked environments where these applications might be exposed to external threats. The potential for information disclosure means that attackers could access sensitive data stored within the application's memory or retrieve configuration details that could aid in further attacks. System availability could also be compromised through exploitation, as memory corruption might cause application crashes or system instability. Additionally, the vulnerability could serve as a stepping stone for attackers to escalate privileges within the affected systems, potentially leading to complete system compromise and persistent access to enterprise networks.
The recommended mitigation strategy involves immediate deployment of vendor-provided patches or updates that address the heap buffer overflow vulnerability in all affected versions of the software. Organizations should prioritize patch management and ensure that all instances of Cobalt, Xenon, Argon, Lithium, and Cobalt Share are updated to versions that contain memory safety fixes. In environments where immediate patching is not feasible, network segmentation and access controls should be implemented to limit exposure to the vulnerable applications. Input validation should be strengthened at all application entry points to prevent malicious data from reaching the vulnerable code paths. System monitoring and intrusion detection systems should be configured to detect unusual memory access patterns or potential exploitation attempts. Security teams should also conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify any other instances of similar memory safety issues within the software ecosystem, as this vulnerability may indicate broader code quality concerns that could affect other components of the application suite.