CVE-2025-14936 NSF Unidata NetCDF-C Attribute Name Stack-based Buffer Overflow Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

High 7.8 Published 23 Dec 2025 Updated 26 Dec 2025

Remote attackers can execute arbitrary code by tricking users into opening malicious files due to a stack-based buffer overflow in NetCDF-C.

Exploited in the wild: Not known
Login needed: Not needed
Attackable: Local or same network only
Victim action needed: A user has to click or open something
Fix: Available

What is CVE-2025-14936?

CVE-2025-14936 is a high-severity memory corruption vulnerability in NSF Unidata NetCDF-C, published on 23 Dec 2025. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.

Official description

NSF Unidata NetCDF-C Attribute Name Stack-based Buffer Overflow Remote Code Execution Vulnerability. This vulnerability allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected installations of NSF Unidata NetCDF-C. User interaction is required to exploit this vulnerability in that the target must visit a malicious page or open a malicious file.

The specific flaw exists within the parsing of attribute names. The issue results from the lack of proper validation of the length of user-supplied data prior to copying it to a fixed-length stack-based buffer. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to execute code in the context of the current user. Was ZDI-CAN-27269.

Weakness: CWE-787, CWE-121

Which versions are affected by CVE-2025-14936?

It affects 1 product.

Products include Unidata Netcdf.

How do I fix CVE-2025-14936?

Apply the vendor's patch.

Upgrade to the fixed version. Memory-safe languages, compiler hardening and fuzzing prevent most new cases. More about Memory corruption.

Is CVE-2025-14936 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2025-14936 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Sources

Also known as DEBIAN-CVE-2025-14936, ECHO-3d49-c43f-5970, GHSA-9837-5f4m-mwrm, UBUNTU-CVE-2025-14936.