CVE-2024-53849 is a stack-based buffer overflow vulnerability identified in the editorconfig-core-c library, a C implementation used by plugins to parse EditorConfig files. The vulnerability arises specifically within the switch case handling the '[' character when the input pattern contains numerous escaped characters. The processing logic adds backslashes, which reduces the available space in the output buffer when dealing with nested brackets. This miscalculation leads to the remaining input length exceeding the allocated output buffer capacity, causing a stack-based buffer overflow (CWE-121). Such overflows can result in memory corruption, potentially leading to application crashes or undefined behavior. The vulnerability affects all versions of editorconfig-core-c prior to 0.12.7, where the issue has been fixed. Exploitation requires local access with low privileges (PR:L), no user interaction, and has limited scope and impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability, reflected in the CVSS 4.8 score. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, and no alternative mitigations exist other than upgrading. This vulnerability is relevant for software development environments and tools that incorporate editorconfig-core-c for EditorConfig parsing, which is common in many IDEs and code editors.

For European organizations, the primary impact of this vulnerability lies in the potential for application instability or crashes within development tools or plugins that utilize editorconfig-core-c. While the vulnerability requires local access and low privileges, exploitation could allow an attacker to cause denial of service or potentially execute arbitrary code if combined with other vulnerabilities, thereby compromising the integrity and availability of development environments. This could disrupt software development workflows, delay project timelines, and increase operational risk. Organizations with large software development teams or those relying heavily on open-source tooling that includes editorconfig-core-c are at greater risk. The vulnerability does not directly affect production systems but could be leveraged in multi-stage attacks targeting developer workstations or build servers. Given the lack of known exploits, the immediate risk is moderate, but the potential for future exploitation warrants timely remediation.

The definitive mitigation is to upgrade all instances of editorconfig-core-c to version 0.12.7 or later, where the vulnerability has been addressed. Organizations should audit their development environments, build systems, and any integrated development tools to identify usage of editorconfig-core-c and ensure they are not running vulnerable versions. Since no workarounds exist, patch management processes should prioritize this update. Additionally, enforcing strict access controls and limiting local user privileges can reduce the risk of exploitation. Monitoring development systems for unusual crashes or behavior may help detect attempted exploitation. Incorporating this vulnerability into vulnerability management and software composition analysis tools will aid in ongoing detection. Finally, educating developers and IT staff about the importance of keeping development dependencies up to date is critical to prevent similar risks.