CVE-2024-25366 is a buffer overflow vulnerability identified in the libiec61859 library version 1.4.0, a component used for IEC 61850 communication protocols commonly found in industrial automation and control systems. The vulnerability resides in the mmsServer_handleGetNameListRequest function of the mms_getnamelist_service component. This function improperly handles input data, allowing a remote attacker to send crafted requests that overflow internal buffers. The overflow leads to a denial of service (DoS) condition by crashing or destabilizing the service, thereby impacting system availability. The vulnerability requires an attacker to have local network access to the affected system but does not require any privileges or user interaction, making it relatively easier to exploit within a trusted network environment. The CVSS 3.1 score of 6.2 reflects the medium severity, with the attack vector being local network (AV:L), low attack complexity (AC:L), no privileges required (PR:N), no user interaction (UI:N), and impact limited to availability (A:H). No confidentiality or integrity impacts are reported. No patches or fixes have been released yet, and no known exploits have been observed in the wild. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-190 (Integer Overflow or Wraparound), indicating that the buffer overflow likely stems from improper handling of integer values leading to memory corruption. Given the critical role of IEC 61850 protocols in power grids and industrial environments, this vulnerability could disrupt critical infrastructure operations if exploited.

The primary impact of CVE-2024-25366 is a denial of service condition affecting systems running libiec61859 version 1.4.0. This can cause service crashes or instability in industrial communication systems that rely on the IEC 61850 protocol, potentially disrupting operational technology (OT) environments such as electrical substations, manufacturing plants, and critical infrastructure. While the vulnerability does not directly compromise confidentiality or integrity, the loss of availability in these environments can lead to operational downtime, safety risks, and financial losses. Organizations with industrial control systems (ICS) and supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems using this library are particularly vulnerable. The requirement for local network access limits remote exploitation but does not eliminate risk, especially in environments where network segmentation is weak or remote access is granted. The absence of known exploits currently provides a window for proactive mitigation, but the medium severity score suggests that attackers with network access could disrupt critical services if the vulnerability is weaponized.

1. Immediately restrict network access to the mms_getnamelist_service component by implementing strict firewall rules and network segmentation to limit exposure to trusted hosts only. 2. Monitor network traffic for unusual or malformed MMS GetNameList requests that could indicate exploitation attempts. 3. Employ intrusion detection/prevention systems (IDS/IPS) tuned to detect anomalies in IEC 61850 MMS traffic. 4. Coordinate with the vendor (mz-automation.de) for updates or patches and apply them promptly once available. 5. Conduct thorough security assessments of OT networks to identify and isolate vulnerable systems running libiec61859. 6. Implement robust network segmentation between IT and OT environments to minimize the attack surface. 7. Develop incident response plans specific to OT denial of service scenarios to reduce downtime impact. 8. Consider deploying application-layer proxies or protocol-aware gateways that can validate and sanitize MMS requests before they reach vulnerable components.