CVE-2025-52581 is a critical integer overflow vulnerability identified in the GDF (General Data Format) parsing functionality of The Biosig Project's libbiosig library, specifically affecting version 3.9.0 and the Master Branch commit 35a819fa. Libbiosig is an open-source library used for biosignal processing, including EEG, ECG, and other physiological data formats, and is integrated into various scientific and medical software tools. The vulnerability arises due to improper handling of integer values during the parsing of specially crafted GDF files. An attacker can exploit this flaw by supplying a maliciously crafted GDF file that triggers an integer overflow or wraparound condition, leading to memory corruption. This memory corruption can be leveraged to achieve arbitrary code execution on the target system without requiring any user interaction or privileges. The CVSS v3.1 base score of 9.8 reflects the high severity, with network attack vector, low attack complexity, no privileges required, and no user interaction needed. The impact includes full compromise of confidentiality, integrity, and availability of affected systems. No known exploits are reported in the wild yet, but the critical nature and ease of exploitation make this a significant threat. The lack of available patches at the time of publication increases the urgency for mitigation and monitoring. Given libbiosig's usage in medical and research environments, exploitation could disrupt critical data processing and potentially impact patient care or scientific research integrity.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-52581 is substantial, especially within healthcare, biomedical research, and academic institutions that rely on biosignal processing software incorporating libbiosig. Successful exploitation could lead to arbitrary code execution, enabling attackers to steal sensitive patient data, alter research results, or disrupt medical device functionality. This could result in regulatory non-compliance under GDPR due to data breaches, financial losses, reputational damage, and potential harm to patients if medical devices or monitoring systems are affected. Additionally, research institutions could face data integrity issues, undermining scientific outcomes. The vulnerability's network attack vector and no requirement for user interaction increase the risk of remote exploitation, potentially allowing attackers to target exposed systems or trick users into opening malicious files. The absence of patches heightens the risk window, necessitating immediate attention from European organizations using libbiosig or dependent software.

1. Immediate mitigation should include restricting the processing of untrusted or unauthenticated GDF files, especially from external or unknown sources. 2. Implement network-level controls such as firewalls and intrusion detection/prevention systems to monitor and block suspicious traffic related to biosignal data transfers. 3. Conduct thorough inventory and audit of software and systems using libbiosig to identify affected versions (3.9.0 and Master Branch 35a819fa). 4. Where possible, isolate systems processing biosignal data from general networks to limit exposure. 5. Monitor vendor and community channels for official patches or updates and plan rapid deployment once available. 6. Employ application-level sandboxing or containerization to limit the impact of potential exploitation. 7. Educate staff about the risks of opening or processing unverified biosignal files. 8. Consider implementing runtime application self-protection (RASP) or endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions to detect anomalous behaviors indicative of exploitation attempts. 9. Review and enhance logging and monitoring around biosignal processing applications to detect early signs of compromise.