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, version 4.8.0. The Metro Development Server, by default, binds to external network interfaces, exposing an endpoint that accepts POST requests without authentication. This endpoint fails to properly sanitize input, allowing unauthenticated remote attackers to inject and execute arbitrary OS commands. On Windows platforms, this vulnerability enables attackers to run arbitrary shell commands with fully controlled arguments, significantly increasing the attack surface and potential damage. The vulnerability has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 9.8, reflecting its ease of exploitation (network attack vector, no privileges or user interaction required) and its severe impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. Although no public patches or exploits are currently reported, the exposure of development servers to external networks and the ability to execute arbitrary commands remotely pose a critical risk. This vulnerability can lead to full system compromise, data exfiltration, or disruption of development environments. The Metro server is commonly used in React Native development workflows, often running on developer machines or CI/CD infrastructure, which may be exposed to internal or external networks, increasing the risk of exploitation.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-11953 is substantial, particularly for those relying on React Native for mobile application development. Exploitation can lead to unauthorized remote code execution on developer machines or build servers, resulting in potential theft of sensitive source code, insertion of malicious code, disruption of development pipelines, and lateral movement within corporate networks. The ability to execute arbitrary commands without authentication increases the risk of widespread compromise, especially in environments where the Metro server is exposed beyond localhost or internal networks. This could affect intellectual property, delay product releases, and damage organizational reputation. Additionally, compromised development environments may serve as a foothold for attackers to escalate privileges and access production systems. The risk is heightened in organizations with remote or hybrid work models where developer machines may be connected to less secure networks. Given the critical severity and ease of exploitation, European companies must prioritize mitigation to protect their software supply chain integrity and operational continuity.

To mitigate CVE-2025-11953, organizations should immediately update the React Native Community CLI and Metro Development Server to patched versions once available. Until patches are released, developers should restrict the Metro server to bind only to localhost or trusted internal interfaces by configuring the server settings explicitly. Network-level controls such as firewall rules should block external access to the Metro server ports. Implement strict network segmentation to isolate development environments from external and production networks. Employ runtime application self-protection (RASP) or endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions to monitor and block suspicious command execution attempts. Educate developers to avoid exposing development servers to untrusted networks and to verify the source of dependencies. Regularly audit and monitor development infrastructure for unusual activity. Finally, incorporate secure coding and input validation practices in development workflows to prevent similar injection vulnerabilities.