CVE-2025-53888 Memory corruption in RIOT
An attacker can trigger a buffer overflow in RIOT-OS link layer filtering by providing an oversized address length, potentially leading to code execution or denial of service.
- Exploited in the wild
- Not known
- Login needed
- Not needed
- Attackable
- Over the internet
- Victim action needed
- Not needed
- Fix
- None listed
What is CVE-2025-53888?
CVE-2025-53888 is a medium-severity memory corruption vulnerability in RIOT-OS RIOT, published on 18 Jul 2025. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Official description
RIOT-OS, an operating system that supports Internet of Things devices, has an ineffective size check implemented with `assert()` can lead to buffer overflow in versions up to and including 2025.04. Assertions are usually compiled out in production builds. If assertions are the only defense against untrusted inputs, the software may be exposed to attacks that utilize the lack of proper input checks. In the `l2filter_add()` function shown below, `addr_len` is checked using an assertion and is subsequently used as an argument in a `memcpy()` call. When assertions are disabled, there would be no size check for `addr_len`. As a consequence, if an attacker were to provide an `addr_len` value larger than `CONFIG_L2FILTER_ADDR_MAXLEN`, they can trigger a buffer overflow and write past the `list[i].addr` buffer. If the unchecked input is attacker-controlled, the impact of the buffer overflow can range from a denial of service to arbitrary code execution. Commit f6f7de4ccc107c018630e4c15500825caf02e1c2 contains a patch for the vulnerability.
Weakness: CWE-120
Which versions are affected by CVE-2025-53888?
It affects 1 product.
Products include Riot-Os Riot.
How do I fix CVE-2025-53888?
No fix has been published for CVE-2025-53888 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.
Upgrade to the fixed version. Memory-safe languages, compiler hardening and fuzzing prevent most new cases. More about Memory corruption.
Is CVE-2025-53888 being exploited?
There is no known exploitation of CVE-2025-53888 in the wild and no public exploit code.
Other vulnerabilities in RIOT-OS RIOT
Sources
Also known as GHSA-7972-w7f9-3j9m.