CVE-2025-13601 is a heap-based buffer overflow vulnerability found in the glib library, specifically within the g_escape_uri_string() function. This function is responsible for escaping URI strings by replacing unacceptable characters with escape sequences. The vulnerability stems from an integer overflow or wraparound during the calculation of the buffer size needed to store the escaped string. When the input string contains a very large number of characters that require escaping, the length calculation can overflow, resulting in an underestimated buffer size allocation. Consequently, when the function writes the escaped string, it may write beyond the allocated buffer boundary, causing a heap-based buffer overflow. This memory corruption can lead to arbitrary code execution or denial of service by crashing the affected process. The vulnerability is present in Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10, a widely used enterprise-grade Linux distribution. The CVSS v3.1 score of 7.7 reflects a high severity, with an attack vector limited to local access (AV:L), low attack complexity (AC:L), no privileges required (PR:N), and no user interaction needed (UI:N). The scope is unchanged (S:U), with no confidentiality impact but high integrity and availability impacts (C:N/I:H/A:H). No known exploits have been reported in the wild as of the publication date. The flaw requires an attacker to supply a crafted input string with many escapable characters to trigger the overflow. This vulnerability is critical for applications and services relying on glib for URI processing, as exploitation could compromise system integrity or availability.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-13601 can be significant, especially for those running Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10 in production environments. The heap-based buffer overflow can lead to arbitrary code execution or denial of service, threatening the integrity and availability of critical systems. This is particularly concerning for sectors such as finance, healthcare, telecommunications, and government services, where system reliability and data integrity are paramount. The local attack vector means that attackers need some level of access to the system, which could be achieved through compromised user accounts or insider threats. Exploitation could allow attackers to escalate privileges or disrupt services, potentially causing operational downtime or data corruption. Given the widespread use of Red Hat Enterprise Linux in European enterprises and public sector infrastructure, the vulnerability poses a tangible risk to business continuity and security posture. Additionally, the absence of known exploits in the wild provides a window of opportunity for defenders to remediate before active exploitation occurs.

To mitigate CVE-2025-13601, European organizations should immediately apply any patches or updates released by Red Hat for Enterprise Linux 10 that address this vulnerability. In the absence of an official patch, organizations should consider temporary workarounds such as restricting access to affected systems to trusted users only and monitoring for unusual activity related to URI processing functions. Implementing strict input validation to limit the length and content of strings passed to g_escape_uri_string() can reduce the risk of triggering the overflow. Employing memory protection mechanisms such as Address Space Layout Randomization (ASLR), stack canaries, and heap protection can help mitigate exploitation impact. Regularly auditing and hardening local user accounts and minimizing unnecessary local access will reduce the attack surface. Security teams should also monitor system logs and intrusion detection systems for signs of exploitation attempts. Finally, organizations should conduct code reviews and testing of applications that use glib for URI processing to identify and remediate unsafe usage patterns.