CVE-2025-54878 Heap Buffer Overflow in NASA CryptoLib 1.4.0 `Crypto_TC_Check_IV_Setup`
A heap buffer overflow in NASA CryptoLib allows attackers to corrupt memory via crafted telecommand frames, potentially causing crashes or code execution.
- 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-2025-54878?
CVE-2025-54878 is a high-severity memory corruption vulnerability in nasa CryptoLib, published on 11 Aug 2025. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Official description
CryptoLib provides a software-only solution using the CCSDS Space Data Link Security Protocol - Extended Procedures (SDLS-EP) to secure communications between a spacecraft running the core Flight System (cFS) and a ground station. A heap buffer overflow vulnerability exists in NASA CryptoLib version 1.4.0 and prior in the IV setup logic for telecommand frames. The problem arises from missing bounds checks when copying the Initialization Vector (IV) into a freshly allocated buffer. An attacker can supply a crafted TC frame that causes the library to write one byte past the end of the heap buffer, leading to heap corruption and undefined behaviour. An attacker supplying a malformed telecommand frame can corrupt heap memory. This leads to undefined behaviour, which could manifest itself as a crash (denial of service) or more severe exploitation. This issue has been patched in version 1.4.0.
Weakness: CWE-122
Which versions are affected by CVE-2025-54878?
It affects 1 product.
Products include Nasa Cryptolib.
How do I fix CVE-2025-54878?
No fix has been published for CVE-2025-54878 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-2025-54878 being exploited?
It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2025-54878 exists.
Other vulnerabilities in nasa CryptoLib
- CVE-2025-30216 CryptoLib Has Heap Overflow in Crypto_TM_ProcessSecurity due to Unchecked Secondary Header Length
- CVE-2025-30356 Heap Buffer Overflow via Incomplete Length Check in `Crypto_TC_ApplySecurity`
- CVE-2025-29909 CryptoLib's Crypto_TC_ApplySecurity() Has a Heap Buffer Overflow Vulnerability
- CVE-2025-29911 CryptoLib Has Heap Buffer Overflow in Crypto_AOS_ProcessSecurity Function
- CVE-2025-29912 CryptoLib Has Heap Buffer Overflow Due to Unsigned Integer Underflow in Crypto_TC_ProcessSecurity
Sources
Also known as GHSA-9qph-pxfm-q9g4.