CVE-2025-32051 is a medium-severity vulnerability identified in libsoup, a GNOME HTTP client/server library widely used in Linux-based environments and applications that require HTTP communication. The flaw exists in the soup_uri_decode_data_uri() function, which is responsible for decoding data URIs. When this function processes malformed data URIs, it may crash due to improper handling of unusual or exceptional conditions. This crash leads to a denial of service (DoS) condition, where the affected application or service becomes unavailable or unresponsive. The vulnerability does not require any authentication or user interaction, and it can be triggered remotely over the network (AV:N), but it has a high attack complexity (AC:H), meaning exploitation requires specific conditions or crafted inputs. The impact is limited to availability (A:H) with no confidentiality or integrity impact. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, and no patches or vendor advisories are linked yet. The vulnerability was published on April 3, 2025, and has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 5.9, reflecting its medium severity. Given libsoup's role in many Linux desktop environments and server applications, this vulnerability could be leveraged by attackers to disrupt services by sending specially crafted malformed data URIs to vulnerable applications using libsoup for HTTP handling.

For European organizations, the primary impact of CVE-2025-32051 is service disruption due to denial of service attacks against applications or services relying on libsoup for HTTP communication. This could affect web services, desktop applications, or backend systems that parse data URIs. Organizations in sectors such as finance, government, healthcare, and critical infrastructure that depend on Linux-based systems and GNOME environments may experience temporary outages or degraded service availability. Although the vulnerability does not compromise data confidentiality or integrity, the loss of availability can interrupt business operations, cause reputational damage, and potentially lead to financial losses. The medium severity and high attack complexity suggest that widespread exploitation is less likely, but targeted attacks against critical services could still pose a significant risk. The lack of known exploits in the wild currently reduces immediate threat levels but does not eliminate the need for vigilance.

European organizations should proactively identify and inventory all systems and applications using libsoup, particularly those that handle data URIs or HTTP requests. Applying patches or updates from the libsoup maintainers as soon as they become available is critical. In the absence of official patches, organizations can implement input validation and sanitization at the application level to detect and reject malformed data URIs before they reach libsoup. Network-level protections such as Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) or Intrusion Prevention Systems (IPS) can be configured to detect and block suspicious HTTP requests containing malformed data URIs. Additionally, monitoring application logs for crashes or unusual behavior related to URI processing can help detect exploitation attempts early. Employing robust incident response plans to quickly address service disruptions will minimize operational impact. Finally, maintaining up-to-date threat intelligence feeds will help organizations stay informed about any emerging exploits or patches related to this vulnerability.