CVE-2025-1252 is a heap-based buffer overflow vulnerability identified in RTI Connext Professional, a middleware product widely used for real-time data connectivity in distributed systems. The vulnerability affects multiple versions of the product, specifically from 4.4d up to versions before 7.5.0, including 7.4.0, 7.0.0, 6.1.0, 6.0.0, and 5.3.0. The flaw arises due to improper handling of overflow variables and tags in the core libraries, which can lead to a heap buffer overflow condition. This type of vulnerability occurs when a program writes more data to a buffer located on the heap than it was allocated to hold, potentially corrupting adjacent memory. Exploiting this vulnerability could allow an attacker with limited privileges (low privileges required) and local access to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service by crashing the affected application. The CVSS v4.0 base score is 6.9, indicating a medium severity level. The vector details show that the attack requires local access (AV:L), low attack complexity (AC:L), no user interaction (UI:N), and privileges (PR:L), with high impact on integrity and availability but no impact on confidentiality. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, and no patches have been linked yet. The vulnerability does not require user interaction but does require some level of privilege, limiting remote exploitation but still posing a significant risk in environments where local access can be gained or where the software runs with elevated privileges. The affected product is critical in environments requiring real-time data exchange, such as industrial control systems, automotive, aerospace, and defense sectors.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-1252 could be substantial, particularly in sectors relying on RTI Connext Professional for real-time communication and data distribution. These include manufacturing, automotive, aerospace, defense, and critical infrastructure sectors. Exploitation could lead to unauthorized code execution or denial of service, potentially disrupting operational technology (OT) environments and critical services. Given the medium severity and the requirement for local access with low privileges, the threat is more pronounced in environments where insider threats or lateral movement within networks are possible. The integrity and availability impacts could result in corrupted data streams or system outages, affecting production lines, safety systems, or mission-critical applications. European organizations with stringent regulatory requirements around operational continuity and data integrity, such as those under NIS2 Directive or GDPR (where data integrity is a component), may face compliance risks if this vulnerability is exploited. Additionally, the lack of known exploits currently provides a window for proactive mitigation before active attacks emerge.

Specific mitigation steps include: 1) Immediate inventory and identification of RTI Connext Professional versions in use across the organization to determine exposure. 2) Apply vendor patches or updates as soon as they become available; monitor RTI’s official channels for patch releases. 3) Restrict local access to systems running the affected software to trusted personnel only, implementing strict access controls and monitoring for unusual activity. 4) Employ application whitelisting and runtime protection mechanisms to detect and prevent exploitation attempts. 5) Conduct thorough code and configuration reviews for applications integrating RTI Connext Professional to identify unsafe usage patterns of overflow variables and tags. 6) Implement network segmentation to isolate critical systems using RTI Connext Professional from less secure network zones, reducing the risk of lateral movement. 7) Enhance logging and monitoring for anomalies related to the affected software, focusing on memory corruption indicators or crashes. 8) Train relevant staff on the risks associated with this vulnerability and the importance of maintaining least privilege principles. These targeted actions go beyond generic patching advice by focusing on access control, monitoring, and architectural defenses tailored to the nature of the vulnerability and the product’s deployment context.