CVE-2025-15013 is a stack-based buffer overflow vulnerability found in the _sg_validate_pipeline_desc function of the sokol_gfx.h header file, part of the floooh sokol graphics library. This vulnerability arises from improper validation or handling of pipeline descriptor data, allowing an attacker to overflow a buffer on the stack. The overflow can corrupt adjacent memory, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution, application crashes, or privilege escalation. The attack vector is local, requiring the attacker to have at least low-level privileges on the host system. No user interaction is needed once local access is obtained. The vulnerability affects versions up to commit 5d11344150973f15e16d3ec4ee7550a73fb995e0, but due to the rolling release model of the project, exact versioning is fluid. A patch has been committed (b95c5245ba357967220c9a860c7578a7487937b0) to fix the issue. Although no widespread exploitation is currently reported, a public exploit exists, increasing the risk of local attacks. The CVSS 4.8 rating reflects medium severity, considering the local attack vector and required privileges. The vulnerability primarily threatens applications or systems embedding the sokol graphics library, especially in development environments or embedded devices where local access is possible.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-15013 depends largely on their use of the floooh sokol graphics library. Organizations involved in software development, embedded systems, or graphics applications using sokol may face risks of local privilege escalation or denial of service due to memory corruption. This could lead to unauthorized code execution or system instability, affecting confidentiality, integrity, and availability of affected systems. In environments where multiple users share access or where local access controls are weak, the vulnerability could be exploited by malicious insiders or attackers who gain limited local access. Critical infrastructure or industrial control systems using embedded graphics components might also be at risk if they incorporate the vulnerable library. While remote exploitation is not possible, the presence of a public exploit increases the likelihood of targeted local attacks. The rolling release nature of the product means organizations must maintain vigilant patch management to avoid exposure. Overall, the threat is moderate but significant for sectors relying on the affected library within Europe.

European organizations should take the following specific steps to mitigate CVE-2025-15013: 1) Immediately apply the patch identified by commit b95c5245ba357967220c9a860c7578a7487937b0 to all instances of the floooh sokol library in use. 2) Conduct an inventory of all software and embedded systems that incorporate sokol to identify affected deployments. 3) Restrict local access to systems running vulnerable versions, enforcing strict user permissions and limiting local accounts to trusted personnel only. 4) Implement monitoring and alerting for unusual local activity that could indicate exploitation attempts. 5) For development environments, ensure that build and deployment pipelines incorporate the patched library version and that developers are informed of the vulnerability. 6) Review and harden system configurations to minimize the impact of potential buffer overflow exploits, such as enabling stack canaries, DEP (Data Execution Prevention), and ASLR (Address Space Layout Randomization). 7) Educate local users about the risks of executing untrusted code or commands on affected systems. 8) Maintain up-to-date backups and incident response plans to quickly recover from any exploitation incidents. These targeted actions go beyond generic advice by focusing on local access control, patch management in rolling release contexts, and development pipeline hygiene.