CVE-2025-66287 is a classic buffer overflow vulnerability identified in WebKitGTK, a web content engine integrated into Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6. The flaw stems from a buffer copy operation that does not verify the size of the input data, leading to improper memory handling. When a user processes maliciously crafted web content, this can trigger an unexpected process crash due to memory corruption. Beyond crashes, such buffer overflows often allow attackers to execute arbitrary code remotely, potentially gaining control over the affected system. The vulnerability is remotely exploitable over the network without requiring authentication, but it does require user interaction, such as visiting a malicious webpage or opening crafted content. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 8.8, reflecting high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability, with low attack complexity and no privileges required. Although no known exploits are currently reported in the wild, the nature of the vulnerability and its integration in a widely used Linux distribution make it a significant risk. Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 is an older, but still in-use, enterprise operating system, often found in legacy environments. WebKitGTK is commonly used in applications that render web content, including browsers and embedded systems. The vulnerability was published on December 4, 2025, with no patches linked yet, indicating the need for immediate vendor attention and user caution. Organizations relying on RHEL 6 should monitor for updates and consider temporary mitigations such as disabling WebKitGTK-based applications or restricting their network access. Employing memory protection features like ASLR and stack canaries can reduce exploitation likelihood. Given the vulnerability’s potential to allow remote code execution, it poses a critical threat to system security and data confidentiality.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-66287 is significant due to the potential for remote code execution leading to full system compromise. Confidentiality breaches could expose sensitive corporate or personal data, while integrity violations might allow attackers to alter critical system or application data. Availability could be disrupted through process crashes or denial-of-service conditions. Organizations in sectors such as finance, government, healthcare, and critical infrastructure that rely on Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6, particularly in legacy or embedded environments, face elevated risks. The requirement for user interaction means phishing or social engineering could be used to trigger exploitation. The absence of known exploits in the wild currently provides a window for proactive defense, but the high CVSS score and ease of exploitation underline the urgency. Failure to address this vulnerability could lead to data breaches, operational disruptions, and reputational damage. European data protection regulations, including GDPR, increase the stakes for organizations to remediate promptly to avoid legal and financial penalties.

1. Apply official patches from Red Hat as soon as they become available to address the buffer overflow in WebKitGTK. 2. Until patches are released, consider disabling or restricting applications that use WebKitGTK to render web content, especially in high-risk environments. 3. Employ network-level controls such as web filtering and intrusion prevention systems to block access to malicious web content. 4. Educate users about the risks of interacting with untrusted web content to reduce the likelihood of triggering the vulnerability. 5. Enable and enforce memory protection mechanisms like Address Space Layout Randomization (ASLR), stack canaries, and Data Execution Prevention (DEP) on affected systems to mitigate exploitation impact. 6. Monitor system logs and network traffic for unusual activity indicative of exploitation attempts. 7. For legacy systems that cannot be upgraded, consider isolating them within segmented network zones to limit exposure. 8. Plan for migration to supported operating system versions to reduce long-term risk from unpatched vulnerabilities.