CVE-2025-7709 is a medium-severity integer overflow vulnerability affecting the FTS5 extension of SQLite, a widely used embedded database engine. The flaw arises during the calculation of the size of an array of tombstone pointers, where the size is truncated into a 32-bit integer. This truncation can lead to an integer overflow or wraparound condition (classified under CWE-190). As a result, a pointer to partially controlled data may be written out of bounds, potentially causing memory corruption. This memory corruption could be leveraged by an attacker to execute arbitrary code, cause a denial of service, or manipulate data integrity. The vulnerability affects SQLite versions greater than 3.49.1 and less than 3.50. Exploitation requires network access (AV:N), high attack complexity (AC:H), partial authentication (PR:L), and user interaction (UI:A). The vulnerability impacts confidentiality and integrity highly, with limited availability impact. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, and no patches have been linked yet. The vulnerability is significant because SQLite is embedded in numerous applications and platforms, including many used in enterprise environments, mobile devices, and web applications. The FTS5 extension is used for full-text search capabilities, which are common in document management, content management systems, and other data-intensive applications. The integer overflow could be triggered by specially crafted input that manipulates the tombstone pointer array size, leading to out-of-bounds writes and potential exploitation.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-7709 can be substantial due to the widespread use of SQLite in various software products and services. Enterprises relying on applications that utilize the FTS5 extension for full-text search functionality may face risks of data corruption, unauthorized data manipulation, or service disruption. Confidentiality breaches could occur if attackers exploit the vulnerability to execute arbitrary code and access sensitive information stored in SQLite databases. Integrity of critical data could be compromised, affecting business operations and compliance with data protection regulations such as GDPR. The requirement for user interaction and partial authentication limits remote exploitation but does not eliminate risk, especially in environments where users interact with untrusted data or external inputs. Additionally, the high attack complexity suggests that exploitation requires significant effort or specific conditions, which may reduce the likelihood of widespread attacks but still poses a threat to targeted attacks against valuable assets. The absence of known exploits in the wild provides a window for proactive mitigation. However, organizations should prioritize assessment and remediation to prevent potential exploitation, especially those in sectors with high data sensitivity such as finance, healthcare, and government.

1. Immediate assessment of all applications and systems using SQLite versions between 3.49.1 and 3.50 that enable the FTS5 extension. 2. Apply updates or patches from SQLite as soon as they become available; monitor official SQLite channels for release announcements. 3. Where patching is not immediately possible, consider disabling the FTS5 extension if full-text search functionality is not critical. 4. Implement strict input validation and sanitization on all user inputs or external data sources that interact with SQLite databases to prevent malformed queries that could trigger the overflow. 5. Employ runtime protections such as memory safety tools (e.g., ASLR, DEP) and application sandboxing to limit the impact of potential exploitation. 6. Increase monitoring and logging around database operations involving FTS5 to detect anomalous behavior indicative of exploitation attempts. 7. Educate developers and system administrators about the vulnerability to ensure secure coding and deployment practices. 8. Conduct penetration testing focusing on SQLite FTS5 usage to identify exploitable conditions within the environment.