CVE-2025-50360 identifies a heap buffer overflow vulnerability in the Pepper language compiler, specifically within the compiler.c and compiler.h source files of version 0.1.1 (commit 961a5d9988c5986d563310275adad3fd181b2bb7). The vulnerability arises when the compiler processes a maliciously crafted Pepper source file (.pr), causing an out-of-bounds write on the heap. This memory corruption can be exploited to achieve arbitrary code execution or trigger a denial of service (DoS) by crashing the compiler process. The vulnerability does not require any privileges or user interaction, making it easier for an attacker with local access to exploit. The CVSS v3.1 score of 8.4 reflects its high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability, with low attack complexity and no privileges required. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-122 (Heap-based Buffer Overflow), a common and dangerous class of memory corruption bugs. Currently, no patches or fixes have been published, and no known exploits have been reported in the wild. The lack of patch availability increases the risk for organizations using this compiler version, especially in development environments where untrusted source files might be compiled. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to execute arbitrary code within the context of the compiler process, potentially leading to full system compromise or disruption of development pipelines.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-50360 can be significant, particularly for those involved in software development or automation using the Pepper language compiler. Successful exploitation could allow attackers to execute arbitrary code on developer machines or build servers, potentially leading to the insertion of malicious code into software products or disruption of development workflows via denial of service. This could compromise intellectual property, introduce backdoors into software supply chains, or cause operational downtime. The vulnerability's ease of exploitation without privileges or user interaction increases the risk of insider threats or attacks leveraging compromised local accounts. Organizations relying on continuous integration/continuous deployment (CI/CD) pipelines that incorporate Pepper language compilation are at heightened risk. The absence of patches means that mitigation currently depends on operational controls, increasing the burden on security teams. Overall, the vulnerability threatens confidentiality, integrity, and availability of development environments and downstream software products, which could have cascading effects on business operations and customer trust.

1. Restrict access to systems running the Pepper language compiler to trusted personnel only, minimizing the risk of malicious source files being compiled. 2. Implement strict source code validation and scanning to detect and block potentially malicious .pr files before compilation. 3. Use sandboxing or containerization to isolate the compiler process, limiting the impact of potential exploitation. 4. Monitor build and compilation logs for unusual errors or crashes that could indicate exploitation attempts. 5. Establish network segmentation to separate development environments from critical production systems. 6. Prepare incident response plans specific to development environment compromises. 7. Stay alert for official patches or updates from the Pepper language maintainers and apply them promptly once available. 8. Consider alternative compilers or languages if feasible until a patch is released. 9. Educate developers and build engineers about the risks of compiling untrusted source code. 10. Employ endpoint detection and response (EDR) tools to detect anomalous behavior on developer machines.