CVE-2025-2784 identifies a heap buffer over-read vulnerability in libsoup, a widely used HTTP client and server library integral to Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10. The vulnerability arises from improper bounds checking in the skip_insight_whitespace() function, which is responsible for parsing HTTP response content by skipping whitespace characters. When libsoup processes a maliciously crafted HTTP response, it may read one byte beyond the allocated heap buffer, leading to an out-of-bounds read. This flaw can cause memory corruption, potentially resulting in application crashes or exposing sensitive memory content. The vulnerability has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.0, reflecting a high severity level with network attack vector, high attack complexity, no privileges required, and no user interaction needed. The scope is unchanged, but the impact affects confidentiality, integrity, and availability to varying degrees. Although no exploits have been reported in the wild, the nature of the flaw makes it a candidate for exploitation in targeted attacks or as part of a larger exploit chain. The vulnerability affects Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10 systems using libsoup, which is common in many enterprise environments for HTTP communications. The absence of patches at the time of reporting necessitates proactive mitigation strategies.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-2784 can be significant, particularly for those relying on Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10 in their infrastructure. The heap buffer over-read can lead to application crashes, denial of service, or leakage of sensitive information from memory, undermining confidentiality and availability. This is critical for sectors such as finance, healthcare, and government where data integrity and uptime are paramount. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability remotely without authentication, increasing the risk of widespread exploitation if weaponized. Organizations with internet-facing services or internal HTTP communications that utilize libsoup are especially vulnerable. The potential for memory disclosure could facilitate further attacks, including privilege escalation or lateral movement within networks. Given the high attack complexity, exploitation may require sophisticated attackers, but the lack of user interaction and privileges lowers the barrier. The vulnerability could disrupt critical services and erode trust in affected systems, emphasizing the need for timely mitigation.

1. Monitor Red Hat and libsoup project channels closely for official patches and apply them promptly once released. 2. Implement network-level controls to restrict access to HTTP services using libsoup, especially from untrusted or external sources. 3. Employ application-layer firewalls or HTTP proxies to inspect and filter suspicious HTTP responses that could exploit this vulnerability. 4. Conduct internal audits to identify all systems running Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10 with libsoup and prioritize them for patching and monitoring. 5. Use runtime memory protection tools such as AddressSanitizer or similar to detect anomalous memory accesses during testing phases. 6. Enhance logging and anomaly detection for HTTP traffic to identify unusual patterns indicative of exploitation attempts. 7. Educate system administrators and security teams about this vulnerability to ensure rapid response and incident handling. 8. Consider network segmentation to isolate critical systems that use vulnerable libsoup components, limiting potential lateral movement. 9. Validate all HTTP responses in custom applications using libsoup to ensure they conform to expected formats and do not trigger the vulnerability.