CVE-2025-4993 is a high-severity vulnerability classified under CWE-822 (Untrusted Pointer Dereference) affecting RTI Connext Professional, a widely used middleware solution for real-time data connectivity in distributed systems. The vulnerability exists in multiple versions of the Connext Professional Core Libraries, specifically from versions 4.4a up to but not including 7.6.0, with affected versions including 4.4a, 5.3.0, 6.0.0, 6.1.0, 7.0.0, and 7.4.0. The issue arises due to improper handling of pointers that can be manipulated by an attacker, leading to untrusted pointer dereference. This flaw allows an attacker to perform pointer manipulation, potentially causing the application to dereference invalid or malicious pointers. The CVSS 4.0 base score is 8.3, indicating a high severity, with an attack vector of network (AV:N), low attack complexity (AC:L), no privileges required (PR:N), no user interaction (UI:N), and partial impact on confidentiality and availability (VC:H, VA:H) but no impact on integrity or integrity-related components. The vulnerability does not require authentication or user interaction, making it easier to exploit remotely. Exploitation could lead to denial of service or potentially arbitrary code execution depending on the context of pointer usage. Although no known exploits are currently reported in the wild, the broad range of affected versions and the critical nature of the flaw necessitate urgent attention. RTI Connext Professional is commonly deployed in industrial automation, aerospace, defense, and automotive sectors where real-time data exchange is critical, increasing the risk profile of this vulnerability in such environments.

For European organizations, especially those operating in critical infrastructure sectors such as manufacturing, automotive, aerospace, and defense, this vulnerability poses a significant risk. RTI Connext Professional is often embedded in systems requiring real-time communication and reliability. Exploitation could disrupt operational technology (OT) environments, leading to denial of service or system instability, which in turn could halt production lines, compromise safety systems, or degrade mission-critical communications. The partial confidentiality impact suggests sensitive data transmitted via the middleware could be exposed or intercepted. Given the lack of required privileges or user interaction, attackers could remotely target vulnerable systems, increasing the threat surface. European organizations involved in Industry 4.0 initiatives or connected vehicle technologies may be particularly vulnerable. Additionally, the potential for availability impact could affect service continuity, regulatory compliance, and cause financial and reputational damage. The absence of known exploits currently provides a window for proactive mitigation, but the high CVSS score and ease of exploitation underscore the urgency.

Organizations should immediately identify and inventory all instances of RTI Connext Professional in their environments, focusing on versions 4.4a through 7.6.0. Since no patch links are currently provided, organizations should engage directly with RTI for official patches or updates addressing CVE-2025-4993. In the interim, network-level mitigations such as isolating RTI Connext Professional components within segmented, controlled network zones can reduce exposure. Employ strict firewall rules to limit access to middleware communication ports only to trusted hosts. Implement runtime application self-protection (RASP) or memory protection mechanisms to detect and prevent pointer manipulation exploits. Conduct thorough code audits and penetration testing focusing on pointer handling in custom integrations with RTI Connext. Monitor network traffic and system logs for anomalous activity indicative of exploitation attempts. Finally, establish incident response plans tailored to potential denial of service or compromise scenarios involving RTI middleware components.