CVE-2025-25472 is a buffer overflow vulnerability identified in the DCMTK (DICOM Toolkit) git master branch version 3.6.9+ DEV. DCMTK is an open-source toolkit widely used for handling DICOM files, which are standard in medical imaging. The vulnerability arises when the toolkit processes a specially crafted DCM file, leading to a buffer overflow condition. This overflow can cause the application to crash, resulting in a Denial of Service (DoS). The vulnerability is exploitable remotely without requiring any authentication or user interaction, as indicated by the CVSS vector (AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N). The flaw is classified under CWE-120, which relates to classic buffer overflow issues where improper bounds checking allows overwriting memory. Although the CVSS base score is 5.3 (medium severity), the impact is limited to integrity (application crash) with no direct confidentiality or availability compromise beyond DoS. No patches or known exploits are currently available, but the vulnerability is publicly disclosed and should be addressed promptly. The lack of a patch means organizations must implement interim mitigations to reduce risk. DCMTK is primarily used in healthcare environments for medical imaging workflows, making healthcare providers and associated IT infrastructure the primary targets. The vulnerability could disrupt medical imaging services, potentially impacting patient care and operational continuity.

For European organizations, especially those in the healthcare sector, this vulnerability poses a risk of service disruption in medical imaging systems that rely on DCMTK for processing DICOM files. A successful exploit could cause critical applications to crash, leading to Denial of Service conditions that interrupt diagnostic workflows and delay patient treatment. While the vulnerability does not expose sensitive data directly, the interruption of imaging services can indirectly affect patient safety and operational efficiency. Healthcare providers, hospitals, and diagnostic centers using DCMTK-based tools are at risk. Additionally, organizations involved in medical research or medical device manufacturing that utilize DCMTK may experience operational impacts. The medium severity score reflects the moderate risk level, but given the critical nature of healthcare services, even a DoS can have significant consequences. The absence of known exploits reduces immediate risk but does not eliminate the threat, especially as attackers may develop exploits once the vulnerability details are widely known.

1. Restrict and validate all incoming DCM files before processing, employing strict input validation and sanitization to detect malformed or suspicious files. 2. Isolate DCMTK-based services in segmented network zones with limited access to reduce exposure to untrusted sources. 3. Monitor application logs and system behavior for signs of crashes or abnormal terminations related to DCM file processing. 4. Implement rate limiting and file scanning on endpoints that receive DCM files to prevent mass exploitation attempts. 5. Engage with DCMTK maintainers and subscribe to security advisories to obtain patches or updates as soon as they are released. 6. Consider deploying application-level sandboxing or containerization for DCMTK processes to limit the impact of potential crashes. 7. Conduct regular security assessments and penetration testing focused on DICOM file handling workflows. 8. Train staff on secure handling of medical imaging files and awareness of this vulnerability to reduce accidental exposure.