CVE-2025-2581 identifies an integer underflow vulnerability in the malloc function within the DICOM File Handler component of xmedcon version 0.25.0, a medical imaging software tool used for processing DICOM files. The vulnerability arises when specially crafted input causes the integer value used in memory allocation calculations to underflow, resulting in an incorrect, typically very large, allocation size. This can lead to memory corruption, buffer overflows, or denial of service conditions. The flaw can be exploited remotely without requiring any privileges or authentication, though it requires user interaction, such as opening a maliciously crafted DICOM file. The vulnerability is classified as medium severity with a CVSS 4.0 base score of 5.3, reflecting network attack vector, low attack complexity, no privileges or authentication required, but user interaction necessary. The impact primarily concerns confidentiality and availability due to potential memory corruption or application crashes. The vendor has released version 0.25.1 to address this issue, recommending immediate upgrade. No public exploits or active exploitation campaigns have been reported to date. Given the critical role of DICOM in medical imaging workflows, this vulnerability poses a risk to healthcare providers relying on xmedcon for image processing and analysis.

For European organizations, particularly those in the healthcare sector, this vulnerability could disrupt medical imaging workflows by causing application crashes or memory corruption when processing DICOM files. This may lead to denial of service conditions affecting diagnostic capabilities and patient care. Although no known exploits exist currently, the ease of remote exploitation without authentication means attackers could potentially target vulnerable systems via crafted DICOM files, possibly distributed through phishing or compromised medical data exchanges. Confidentiality risks are moderate since memory corruption could be leveraged to execute arbitrary code or access sensitive patient data, though this is less certain without confirmed exploit code. The availability impact is more immediate, as service interruptions in medical imaging can delay diagnosis and treatment. European healthcare providers using xmedcon 0.25.0 should consider this a significant operational risk, especially in hospitals and clinics with high volumes of DICOM file processing. The vulnerability also raises compliance concerns under GDPR if patient data integrity or availability is compromised.

The primary mitigation is to upgrade xmedcon to version 0.25.1, which contains the patch addressing the integer underflow issue. Organizations should implement strict controls on the sources of DICOM files, validating and sanitizing inputs before processing to reduce exposure to maliciously crafted files. Deploy network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure of xmedcon systems to untrusted networks. Employ endpoint protection solutions capable of detecting anomalous behavior or memory corruption attempts in medical imaging applications. Conduct user awareness training for healthcare staff to recognize suspicious files and avoid opening untrusted DICOM files. Regularly audit and monitor logs for unusual application crashes or errors related to DICOM processing. In environments where immediate patching is not feasible, consider isolating vulnerable systems and restricting file transfers to trusted channels only. Collaborate with medical device and software vendors to ensure timely updates and vulnerability disclosures.