CVE-2025-5640 is a stack-based buffer overflow vulnerability identified in PX4-Autopilot version 1.12.3, specifically within the MavlinkReceiver::handle_message_trajectory_representation_waypoints function of the mavlink_receiver.cpp file. This function is responsible for handling the TRAJECTORY_REPRESENTATION_WAYPOINTS message, which is part of the MAVLink communication protocol used extensively in drone and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) autopilot systems. The vulnerability arises due to improper handling of input data, allowing an attacker with local access to craft a malicious message that overflows a stack buffer. This overflow can corrupt adjacent memory, potentially leading to unpredictable behavior, crashes, or execution of arbitrary code. Exploitation requires local access and does not need user interaction or elevated privileges beyond local access. The vulnerability has a CVSS 4.8 score, indicating medium severity, reflecting the limited attack vector (local) and the absence of required user interaction or privileges escalation. Although no public exploits are currently known in the wild, the vulnerability has been publicly disclosed, increasing the risk of future exploitation. PX4-Autopilot is an open-source flight control software widely used in various UAV platforms for commercial, research, and hobbyist purposes. The vulnerability's exploitation could compromise the integrity and availability of the autopilot system, potentially resulting in loss of control or erratic drone behavior.

For European organizations utilizing PX4-Autopilot in their UAV operations—such as research institutions, commercial drone service providers, and defense contractors—the vulnerability poses a risk to operational safety and mission integrity. Exploitation could lead to denial of service or unauthorized code execution on the autopilot system, potentially causing drone crashes or mission failures. This could result in financial losses, safety hazards, and damage to organizational reputation. Given the local access requirement, the threat is more significant in environments where multiple users have physical or network-level access to the UAV control systems or ground stations. In sectors like logistics, agriculture, infrastructure inspection, and emergency response, where drones are increasingly integrated, disruption caused by this vulnerability could impact service delivery and regulatory compliance. Additionally, compromised UAVs could be leveraged for espionage or sabotage, raising concerns for critical infrastructure protection within Europe.

To mitigate this vulnerability, European organizations should: 1) Immediately update PX4-Autopilot to a patched version once available, or apply any vendor-provided patches addressing CVE-2025-5640. 2) Restrict local access to UAV control systems and ground stations by enforcing strict physical security controls and network segmentation to limit exposure to untrusted users. 3) Implement robust authentication and access control mechanisms on systems interfacing with PX4-Autopilot to prevent unauthorized local access. 4) Monitor logs and system behavior for anomalies indicative of buffer overflow exploitation attempts, such as crashes or unexpected resets. 5) Conduct security audits and penetration testing focused on UAV control environments to identify and remediate other potential vulnerabilities. 6) Educate operators and administrators about the risks of local access exploitation and enforce policies minimizing unnecessary access to critical UAV components. 7) Employ runtime protections such as stack canaries and address space layout randomization (ASLR) where supported to reduce exploitation success likelihood. These measures, combined with timely patching, will significantly reduce the risk posed by this vulnerability.