CVE-2025-65092 in esp-idf
Summary
by MITRE • 11/22/2025
ESF-IDF is the Espressif Internet of Things (IOT) Development Framework. In versions 5.5.1, 5.4.3, and 5.3.4, when the ESP32-P4 uses its hardware JPEG decoder, the software parser lacks necessary validation checks. A specially crafted (malicious) JPEG image could exploit the parsing routine and trigger an out-of-bounds array access. This issue has been fixed in versions 5.5.2, 5.4.4, and 5.3.5. At time of publication versions 5.5.2, 5.4.4, and 5.3.5 have not been released but are fixed respectively in commits 4b8f585, c79cb4d, and 34e2726.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/22/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2025-65092 affects the Espressif Internet of Things development framework, specifically targeting the ESP32-P4 hardware platform's JPEG decoding capabilities. This issue represents a critical security flaw that undermines the integrity of image processing operations within embedded IoT devices. The vulnerability exists in multiple versions of the development framework including 5.5.1, 5.4.3, and 5.3.4, creating widespread exposure across various IoT deployments that rely on Espressif's hardware and software ecosystem for image processing tasks.
The technical flaw manifests in the software parser component responsible for handling JPEG image data when the ESP32-P4 utilizes its dedicated hardware JPEG decoder. The parser fails to implement adequate validation mechanisms to verify the integrity and bounds of image data structures before processing. This omission creates a condition where maliciously crafted JPEG files can exploit the parsing routine to cause out-of-bounds array access violations. Such memory corruption issues typically arise when the parser attempts to read or write data beyond the allocated memory boundaries, potentially leading to system instability, application crashes, or more severe security consequences.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple system reliability issues, as it creates potential attack vectors for adversaries targeting IoT devices running affected versions of the ESF-IDF framework. An attacker could potentially deploy malicious JPEG images through various attack surfaces including web interfaces, file transfers, or network communications, causing the affected devices to execute unintended memory operations. This vulnerability particularly concerns IoT deployments where devices process untrusted image data from external sources, as it could enable remote code execution or denial of service conditions that compromise the entire device functionality.
The fix for this vulnerability has been implemented through specific code commits that address the missing validation checks in the JPEG parsing routine. Version releases 5.5.2, 5.4.4, and 5.3.5 contain the necessary patches to prevent out-of-bounds array access conditions. The patches specifically target the software parser component that interfaces with the hardware JPEG decoder, ensuring proper bounds checking and input validation before memory operations are performed. This remediation aligns with established security practices for preventing buffer overflow vulnerabilities, which are categorized under CWE-129 and CWE-787 in the Common Weakness Enumeration framework. The fix demonstrates a proper approach to memory safety that follows industry standards for secure coding practices in embedded systems development.
Organizations deploying IoT solutions based on Espressif's ESP32-P4 platform should prioritize upgrading to the patched versions or implementing alternative validation mechanisms to protect their deployments from exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of comprehensive input validation in embedded systems where hardware accelerators interact with software parsers, as these interfaces often represent security weak points in complex systems. Security teams should monitor for additional patches and updates from Espressif while implementing network-based detection measures to identify potential exploitation attempts targeting this specific vulnerability. The issue also underscores the need for robust testing procedures in IoT development environments, particularly when integrating hardware and software components that handle external data inputs.