CVE-2025-15504 identifies a null pointer dereference vulnerability in the LIEF (Library to Instrument Executable Formats) project, specifically affecting versions 0.17.0 and 0.17.1. The vulnerability resides in the ELF binary parser component, within the Parser::parse_binary function in src/ELF/Parser.tcc. When parsing crafted ELF binaries, the function may dereference a null pointer, leading to a crash or denial of service. The vulnerability requires local access with low privileges, meaning an attacker must have some level of access to the system to trigger the flaw. No user interaction or elevated privileges are necessary beyond local presence. The flaw does not affect confidentiality or integrity directly but can cause application or service disruption. A public exploit has been released, increasing the likelihood of attacks. The patch identified by commit 81bd5d7ea0c390563f1c4c017c9019d154802978 fixes the issue and is included in LIEF version 0.17.2. Organizations using LIEF for ELF parsing, reverse engineering, or malware analysis should upgrade promptly to mitigate risk. The CVSS 4.0 score of 4.8 reflects the medium severity, considering the local attack vector and limited impact scope.

For European organizations, the primary impact of CVE-2025-15504 is the potential for denial of service or application crashes in software components relying on LIEF for ELF binary parsing. This could disrupt security tools, malware analysis platforms, or development environments that integrate LIEF, potentially delaying incident response or software development workflows. Since exploitation requires local access, the threat is more relevant in environments where multiple users share systems or where attackers can gain initial footholds. Critical infrastructure or organizations with sensitive development pipelines using LIEF may experience operational interruptions. While confidentiality and integrity are not directly compromised, service availability degradation can have downstream effects on security monitoring and operational continuity. The public availability of an exploit increases the urgency for patching to prevent opportunistic attacks.

The most effective mitigation is to upgrade the LIEF library to version 0.17.2 or later, which contains the patch resolving the null pointer dereference. Organizations should audit their software stacks to identify any components or tools that embed or depend on LIEF for ELF parsing and ensure they are updated accordingly. Implement strict access controls to limit local user privileges and reduce the risk of local exploitation. Employ application whitelisting and monitoring to detect abnormal crashes or behaviors related to ELF parsing tools. Additionally, sandboxing or isolating tools that use LIEF can contain potential denial of service impacts. Regularly review and update software dependencies and maintain an inventory of third-party libraries to quickly respond to vulnerabilities. Finally, educate local users on the risks of executing untrusted ELF binaries to minimize exposure.