CVE-2024-23809 is a critical security vulnerability identified in The Biosig Project's libbiosig library, specifically in the BrainVision ASCII Header Parsing component. The vulnerability is classified as a double-free (CWE-415), which occurs when the software attempts to free the same memory location twice, leading to undefined behavior such as memory corruption. In this case, the flaw is triggered by processing a specially crafted .vdhr file, a format used for storing biosignal header data. Exploiting this vulnerability allows an attacker to execute arbitrary code remotely without any authentication or user interaction, as the library processes input files. The vulnerability affects libbiosig version 2.5.0 and the Master Branch (ab0ee111). The CVSS v3.1 base score of 9.8 indicates a critical severity, with attack vector Network (AV:N), low attack complexity (AC:L), no privileges required (PR:N), and no user interaction (UI:N). The impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability is high, meaning a successful exploit could lead to full system compromise. While no public exploits have been reported yet, the nature of the vulnerability and its critical rating suggest that exploitation could be straightforward once a malicious .vdhr file is delivered to a vulnerable system. The Biosig Project is widely used in biomedical research and clinical environments for biosignal data acquisition and analysis, making this vulnerability particularly relevant to organizations handling sensitive medical data.

The potential impact on European organizations is significant, especially those involved in healthcare, biomedical research, and clinical diagnostics where libbiosig is used for biosignal data processing. Successful exploitation could lead to arbitrary code execution, enabling attackers to compromise systems, steal sensitive patient data, manipulate research results, or disrupt critical medical services. This could result in severe privacy violations, regulatory non-compliance (e.g., GDPR), financial losses, and damage to organizational reputation. The vulnerability's network-based attack vector means that remote exploitation is possible if malicious .vdhr files are accepted from untrusted sources, such as external collaborators or internet-facing services. Given the criticality and ease of exploitation, European healthcare providers, research institutions, and medical device manufacturers using libbiosig are at elevated risk. Additionally, disruption or manipulation of biosignal data could affect patient care quality and safety.

1. Monitor The Biosig Project's official channels for patches addressing CVE-2024-23809 and apply updates promptly once available. 2. Until patches are released, implement strict input validation and sanitization for all .vdhr files, rejecting files from untrusted or unauthenticated sources. 3. Employ network segmentation and isolate systems processing biosignal data to limit exposure to potentially malicious inputs. 4. Use application-level sandboxing or containerization to restrict the impact of any successful exploitation. 5. Conduct thorough code reviews and static analysis on any custom integrations with libbiosig to identify and remediate unsafe memory handling. 6. Educate staff on the risks of processing unverified biosignal files and enforce policies restricting file sources. 7. Implement robust logging and monitoring to detect anomalous activity related to biosignal data processing. 8. Coordinate with vendors and partners to ensure they are aware of the vulnerability and mitigation steps.