CVE-2025-57052 is a critical memory safety vulnerability affecting the cJSON library versions 1.5.0 through 1.7.18. The flaw resides in the decode_array_index_from_pointer function within the cJSON_Utils.c source file, where improper bounds checking allows out-of-bounds access when processing JSON pointer strings. Specifically, attackers can craft malformed JSON pointers containing alphanumeric characters that bypass the intended array bounds validation, leading to reading or potentially writing outside the allocated memory buffers. This vulnerability falls under CWE-129 (Improper Validation of Array Index) and CWE-125 (Out-of-bounds Read), which can result in unauthorized data disclosure, corruption, or even arbitrary code execution depending on the context of use. The vulnerability is remotely exploitable without requiring authentication or user interaction, as JSON data is often processed automatically by applications consuming external inputs. The CVSS v3.1 score of 9.8 reflects the critical nature, with network attack vector, low attack complexity, no privileges required, and full impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. Although no public exploits have been reported yet, the widespread use of cJSON in embedded systems, IoT devices, and various software projects makes this a high-risk vulnerability. The absence of patch links indicates that fixes may still be pending or in development, emphasizing the need for immediate risk mitigation. Organizations should audit their software dependencies for affected cJSON versions and prepare to deploy updates once available. Additional mitigations include implementing strict input validation, sandboxing JSON parsing routines, and monitoring for suspicious JSON pointer usage patterns to detect exploitation attempts early.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-57052 can be severe due to the widespread adoption of cJSON in embedded systems, IoT devices, and software applications across multiple sectors including manufacturing, telecommunications, healthcare, and critical infrastructure. Exploitation could lead to unauthorized access to sensitive data, system instability, or full compromise of affected devices, potentially disrupting operations and causing data breaches. Given the critical CVSS score and the lack of required authentication, attackers can remotely exploit this vulnerability at scale. This poses a significant risk to organizations relying on vulnerable cJSON versions, especially those with interconnected industrial control systems or critical services. The vulnerability could also be leveraged as a foothold for lateral movement within networks, increasing the risk of broader cyberattacks. The absence of known exploits currently provides a window for proactive defense, but the high severity demands urgent attention to prevent future exploitation. Failure to address this vulnerability could result in regulatory penalties under GDPR if personal data is compromised, as well as reputational damage and operational downtime.

1. Immediately inventory all software and devices using cJSON versions 1.5.0 through 1.7.18 to identify vulnerable instances. 2. Monitor official cJSON repositories and security advisories for patches addressing CVE-2025-57052 and apply updates promptly once released. 3. Until patches are available, implement strict input validation to reject malformed JSON pointer strings, especially those containing suspicious alphanumeric sequences that could trigger out-of-bounds access. 4. Employ sandboxing or isolation techniques for JSON parsing components to limit the impact of potential exploitation. 5. Enhance logging and monitoring to detect anomalous JSON pointer usage or unexpected memory access patterns indicative of exploitation attempts. 6. For embedded and IoT devices, coordinate with vendors to obtain firmware updates or mitigations. 7. Conduct penetration testing and code reviews focused on JSON processing to uncover similar vulnerabilities. 8. Educate development teams on secure coding practices related to memory management and input validation in C-based libraries. 9. Consider deploying runtime application self-protection (RASP) or memory protection mechanisms such as AddressSanitizer in development and testing environments to detect out-of-bounds accesses early. 10. Prepare incident response plans to quickly contain and remediate any exploitation events related to this vulnerability.