CVE-2024-23606 is a critical security vulnerability identified in The Biosig Project's libbiosig library, specifically in the sopen_FAMOS_read function responsible for reading .famos biosignal data files. The root cause is an incorrect calculation of buffer size (CWE-131), which leads to an out-of-bounds write condition when processing maliciously crafted .famos files. This memory corruption can be exploited by an attacker to execute arbitrary code on the affected system without requiring any privileges or user interaction, as the vulnerability is remotely triggerable by supplying a crafted file. The vulnerability affects libbiosig version 2.5.0 and the master branch at commit ab0ee111. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 9.8, reflecting its critical severity with network attack vector, low attack complexity, no privileges required, and no user interaction needed. The impact spans confidentiality, integrity, and availability, as arbitrary code execution could lead to full system compromise. Currently, no public exploits or active exploitation in the wild have been reported, but the severity and ease of exploitation make it a high-risk issue. The Biosig Project is widely used in biomedical signal processing applications, including research and clinical environments, where libbiosig is integrated into software handling biosignal data. The vulnerability's exploitation could lead to unauthorized control over systems processing sensitive medical data, potentially affecting patient privacy and safety. Given the specialized nature of libbiosig, the threat is more relevant to organizations involved in biomedical research, healthcare technology development, and clinical diagnostics.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2024-23606 is significant, especially those in the biomedical research, healthcare, and medical device sectors that utilize libbiosig for biosignal data processing. Successful exploitation could allow attackers to execute arbitrary code, leading to data breaches involving sensitive patient information, disruption of medical research activities, or manipulation of diagnostic data. This could undermine patient safety, violate data protection regulations such as GDPR, and cause reputational damage. Additionally, compromised systems could be leveraged as footholds for broader network intrusions. The criticality of the vulnerability and its remote exploitability without authentication heighten the risk profile. Organizations relying on software that integrates libbiosig should be particularly vigilant, as the vulnerability could be exploited via malicious .famos files received through email, file sharing, or network transfers. The lack of known exploits in the wild currently provides a window for proactive mitigation, but the potential impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability remains severe.

1. Monitor The Biosig Project repositories and official channels for patches addressing CVE-2024-23606 and apply them immediately upon release. 2. Until patches are available, implement strict input validation and sanitization for .famos files to detect and block malformed or suspicious files. 3. Employ sandboxing or containerization techniques to isolate processes handling biosignal files, limiting the impact of potential exploitation. 4. Restrict access to systems processing .famos files to trusted users and networks, minimizing exposure to untrusted file sources. 5. Conduct code audits and security reviews of any custom software integrating libbiosig to identify and remediate unsafe file handling practices. 6. Deploy network-level protections such as file scanning and intrusion detection systems tuned to detect anomalous activity related to biosignal file processing. 7. Educate staff in biomedical and IT departments about the risks of opening untrusted biosignal files and enforce policies for secure file handling. 8. Maintain up-to-date backups of critical data and systems to enable recovery in case of compromise. These targeted measures go beyond generic advice by focusing on the specific file format, processing context, and operational environment of libbiosig deployments.