# CVE-2025-9136: libretro RetroArch file_stream.c filestream_vscanf out-of-bounds

> A local attacker can trigger an out-of-bounds read in RetroArch, potentially exposing memory or causing a crash.

- **Severity:** Medium 4.8 (`CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:L/VI:L/VA:L/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:X`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 19 Aug 2025
- **Updated:** 19 Aug 2025
- **Also known as:** DEBIAN-CVE-2025-9136, GHSA-6fq3-c5x5-4x7c, UBUNTU-CVE-2025-9136

## What is CVE-2025-9136?

CVE-2025-9136 is a medium-severity memory corruption vulnerability in libretro RetroArch, published on 19 Aug 2025. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

A flaw has been found in libretro RetroArch 1.18.0/1.19.0/1.20.0. This affects the function filestream_vscanf of the file libretro-common/streams/file_stream.c. This manipulation causes out-of-bounds read. The attack needs to be launched locally. Upgrading to version 1.21.0 mitigates this issue. It is recommended to upgrade the affected component.

Weakness: CWE-125 (Out-of-bounds Read), CWE-119 (Improper Restriction of Operations within the Bounds of a Memory Buffer)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2025-9136?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Libretro Retroarch.

## How do I fix CVE-2025-9136?

Upgrade to a fixed version.

## Is CVE-2025-9136 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2025-9136 exists.

## Other vulnerabilities in libretro RetroArch

- [CVE-2021-28927](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-28927/): Command injection in n/a (high 7.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2025-9136 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2025-9136 is a medium-severity memory corruption vulnerability in libretro RetroArch, published on 19 Aug 2025. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2025-9136 exists.

Affected product: libretro RetroArch. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-9136/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-9136/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2025-9136
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-9136
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2025-9136

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-9136/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.