CVE-2025-11953 is a critical vulnerability classified under CWE-78 (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command) affecting the Metro Development Server component of the React Native Community CLI, specifically version 4.8.0. The Metro server, which facilitates React Native app development by bundling JavaScript code, binds to external network interfaces by default, exposing an endpoint vulnerable to OS command injection. An unauthenticated attacker can send specially crafted POST requests to this endpoint, enabling execution of arbitrary executables on the host system. On Windows platforms, the attacker gains the ability to execute arbitrary shell commands with fully controlled arguments, significantly increasing the attack surface and potential damage. The vulnerability does not require authentication or user interaction, making exploitation straightforward if the server is reachable over the network. The CVSS v3.1 score of 9.8 reflects the critical nature of this flaw, with network attack vector, low attack complexity, no privileges required, and no user interaction needed. The impact spans confidentiality, integrity, and availability, as attackers can run arbitrary code, potentially leading to full system compromise. Although no exploits have been reported in the wild yet, the widespread use of React Native in mobile and web app development environments makes this a high-risk vulnerability. The lack of an official patch at the time of publication necessitates immediate mitigation through configuration changes and network controls.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a significant risk, especially those engaged in mobile and web application development using React Native. Compromise of development machines or servers can lead to unauthorized access to sensitive source code, intellectual property theft, insertion of malicious code into applications, and potential lateral movement within corporate networks. The ability to execute arbitrary commands without authentication means attackers can deploy ransomware, exfiltrate data, or establish persistent backdoors. Organizations with exposed development environments or insufficient network segmentation are particularly vulnerable. The impact extends to supply chain security, as compromised development environments can propagate malicious code into production applications distributed to end users. Given the critical CVSS score, the potential for widespread disruption and data breaches is high if the vulnerability is exploited.

1. Immediately restrict the Metro Development Server from binding to external network interfaces; configure it to listen only on localhost or internal trusted networks. 2. Implement strict network access controls and firewall rules to prevent unauthorized external access to development servers. 3. Monitor network traffic for unusual POST requests targeting the Metro server endpoints. 4. Until an official patch is released, consider disabling the Metro server or using alternative development workflows that do not expose vulnerable endpoints. 5. Educate development teams about the risks of exposing development tools to external networks and enforce secure development environment practices. 6. Once patches or updates are available from the React Native community, apply them promptly. 7. Conduct regular security audits of development infrastructure to detect and remediate similar misconfigurations or vulnerabilities.