CVE-2025-53511 is a heap-based buffer overflow vulnerability identified in the MFER parsing functionality of The Biosig Project's libbiosig library, specifically affecting version 3.9.0 and the master branch (commit 35a819fa). The vulnerability arises due to improper bounds checking when processing MFER files, which are used for encoding biomedical signal data. An attacker can craft a malicious MFER file that triggers a heap overflow, enabling arbitrary code execution within the context of the vulnerable application. This can lead to full system compromise, including unauthorized data access, modification, or denial of service. The vulnerability requires no privileges or user interaction, making remote exploitation feasible if the application processes untrusted MFER files. The CVSS v3.1 score of 9.8 reflects the critical nature of this flaw, with attack vector network-based, low attack complexity, no privileges required, and no user interaction needed. Currently, no patches or official fixes have been published, and no exploits are known in the wild, but the potential for weaponization is high given the severity and ease of exploitation.

For European organizations, especially those in healthcare, biomedical research, and signal processing sectors that utilize libbiosig for MFER file parsing, this vulnerability poses a severe risk. Exploitation could lead to arbitrary code execution, resulting in data breaches of sensitive biomedical information, disruption of critical healthcare services, and potential compromise of research integrity. The confidentiality, integrity, and availability of systems handling biomedical signals could be severely impacted. Given the critical nature of healthcare infrastructure in Europe, successful exploitation could also have cascading effects on patient care and safety. Additionally, organizations relying on libbiosig in embedded or IoT medical devices may face risks of device malfunction or takeover. The lack of required privileges or user interaction increases the attack surface, making automated or remote attacks plausible.

Until an official patch is released, European organizations should implement several specific mitigations: 1) Restrict and monitor all sources of MFER files, ensuring only trusted and validated inputs are processed by libbiosig-dependent applications. 2) Employ application-layer sandboxing or containerization to isolate processes that parse MFER files, limiting potential damage from exploitation. 3) Use runtime protections such as heap canaries, address space layout randomization (ASLR), and control flow integrity (CFI) where possible to reduce exploitation success. 4) Conduct code audits and implement additional input validation or bounds checking in custom wrappers around libbiosig if feasible. 5) Monitor network and host logs for unusual activity related to libbiosig usage or unexpected process behavior. 6) Coordinate with vendors and open-source maintainers to prioritize patch development and apply updates immediately upon release. 7) Educate relevant staff about the risks of processing untrusted biomedical data files and enforce strict operational security policies.