CVE-2025-46397 is a stack-based buffer overflow vulnerability identified in the xfig diagramming tool, specifically occurring during the execution of the fig2dev utility. The vulnerability arises in the bezier_spline function, where improper handling of local input can lead to memory corruption. This type of vulnerability typically occurs when a program writes more data to a buffer located on the stack than it can hold, potentially overwriting adjacent memory and leading to unpredictable behavior. In this case, the overflow is triggered by local input manipulation, meaning an attacker would need to have local access or the ability to supply crafted input to the fig2dev tool. The CVSS 3.1 base score is 4.7, indicating a medium severity level. The vector string (AV:L/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N) shows that the attack requires local access (AV:L), high attack complexity (AC:H), no privileges required (PR:N), user interaction is required (UI:R), unchanged scope (S:U), no confidentiality impact (C:N), high integrity impact (I:H), and no availability impact (A:N). There are no known exploits in the wild at the time of publication, and no patches or vendor advisories have been linked yet. The vulnerability could allow an attacker to corrupt memory, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution or application crashes, but exploitation is limited by the need for local access and user interaction, as well as the high complexity of the attack vector.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-46397 depends largely on the usage of the xfig diagramming tool and its fig2dev utility within their environments. xfig is a vector graphics editor commonly used in Unix-like systems, often in academic, engineering, or technical environments for creating diagrams. If organizations rely on xfig for documentation or design workflows, this vulnerability could be exploited by a local attacker or a user with limited access to cause memory corruption, potentially leading to data integrity issues or denial of service in affected systems. While the vulnerability does not impact confidentiality or availability directly, the integrity impact could allow attackers to manipulate outputs or cause application instability. Given the requirement for local access and user interaction, remote exploitation is unlikely, reducing the risk of widespread attacks. However, in environments where multiple users share systems or where untrusted users have local access, this vulnerability could be leveraged for privilege escalation or lateral movement. The lack of known exploits and patches means organizations should prioritize assessment and mitigation to prevent future exploitation, especially in sensitive or critical infrastructure sectors.

To mitigate CVE-2025-46397 effectively, European organizations should: 1) Audit and inventory systems to identify installations of xfig and fig2dev, particularly in multi-user or shared environments. 2) Restrict local access to trusted users only, employing strict access controls and user permissions to limit who can execute fig2dev. 3) Implement application whitelisting or execution control policies to prevent unauthorized or untrusted users from running vulnerable binaries. 4) Monitor system logs and user activities for unusual behavior related to fig2dev usage. 5) Until patches are available, consider disabling or removing the fig2dev utility if it is not essential to operations. 6) Educate users about the risks of running untrusted input through fig2dev and enforce policies to avoid processing unverified files. 7) Stay updated with vendor advisories and apply patches promptly once released. 8) Employ memory protection mechanisms such as stack canaries, ASLR (Address Space Layout Randomization), and DEP (Data Execution Prevention) at the OS level to reduce exploitation success.