CVE-2025-54462 identifies a heap-based buffer overflow vulnerability in the Nex parsing component of The Biosig Project's libbiosig library, specifically affecting version 3.9.0 and the master branch commit 35a819fa. The vulnerability arises from improper bounds checking during the processing of .nex files, which are used for electrophysiological data analysis. An attacker can craft a malicious .nex file that triggers the overflow, allowing arbitrary code execution in the context of the application using libbiosig. The vulnerability is remotely exploitable without any authentication or user interaction, as it only requires the victim to process the malicious file. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 9.8, reflecting critical severity with network attack vector, low attack complexity, no privileges required, and no user interaction needed. The impact spans confidentiality, integrity, and availability, as arbitrary code execution can lead to full system compromise. Currently, no patches or fixes have been published, and no exploits are known in the wild. The Biosig Project is a specialized open-source library used primarily in biomedical research and clinical environments for biosignal processing, meaning the affected systems are niche but critical in their domains.

For European organizations, especially those in biomedical research, healthcare, and clinical diagnostics that utilize libbiosig for electrophysiological data analysis, this vulnerability poses a significant risk. Successful exploitation could lead to full system compromise, data theft, manipulation of sensitive medical data, disruption of diagnostic processes, and potential patient safety risks. Given the critical nature of healthcare infrastructure and research institutions in Europe, an attacker could leverage this vulnerability to disrupt operations or conduct espionage. The remote and unauthenticated nature of the exploit increases the threat level, as attackers can deliver malicious .nex files via email, file sharing platforms, or compromised websites. The impact extends beyond individual organizations to potentially affect public health systems and research collaborations across Europe.

1. Monitor The Biosig Project repositories and official channels for patches or updates addressing CVE-2025-54462 and apply them immediately upon release. 2. Until patches are available, implement strict input validation and filtering to block or quarantine untrusted .nex files before processing. 3. Employ application sandboxing and runtime memory protection mechanisms such as Address Space Layout Randomization (ASLR), Data Execution Prevention (DEP), and Control Flow Guard (CFG) to mitigate exploitation impact. 4. Use intrusion detection systems (IDS) and endpoint detection and response (EDR) tools to monitor for anomalous behavior indicative of exploitation attempts. 5. Educate users and administrators in biomedical and research environments about the risks of opening untrusted .nex files. 6. Consider isolating systems that process .nex files from general networks to limit exposure. 7. Conduct code audits and fuzz testing on custom integrations with libbiosig to identify and remediate related vulnerabilities.